Christopher Thomas Remembered

Christopher Thomas, the baby boy that was murdered by his aunt, who was given physical custody of Christopher and his sister by the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare, was remembered in a service last night:

People entering the chapel stomped their boots and with chilled hands pinned blue ribbons to their sweaters and coats. The ribbons said "Stop Child Abuse" and bore a name: Christopher Thomas Jr.

Christopher, a 13-month-old foster child police say was beaten to death by his aunt and whose 2-year-old sister they say was tortured by the aunt for months, was buried at the cemetery in November. The grief of those who gathered at the chapel to honor him Saturday night appeared unabated.

One by one, they stood behind a wooden podium that bore a photograph of the boy's smiling face and vowed, tearfully, to make his death count.

There was the Rev. Lee Shaw, who a few weeks ago at his church, St. Gabriel's Church of God In Christ, hosted a candlelight vigil for the 83 victims of homicide in the city in 2008.

"Children," he said, "they're a gift from God. They have every right to be protected."

Unfortunatey, the memorial service, and Christopher's legacy, was tarnished a bit:

There was Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills), who this week will introduce legislation that would make child welfare agencies more publicly accountable for the abuse and death of children they seek to protect.

"The state failed him," she wept.

"This is not just a shame. It is a tragedy. It has to change."

Alberta Darling really needs to shut up. The only thing I want to hear from her is that she is resigning from the oversight committee, since she has done nothing but bollox things up since she first introduced the plan to have the state take over child welfare. Then that would be a change for the better.