THE SCORCHED EARTH FILES

Raymond Cooper - North Ribbon Survivor

RAYMOND COOPER: "THEY MURDERED PEOPLE FOR ASKING QUESTIONS"

Name: Raymond Cooper
Age at incident: 51
Role: Key witness, testified at multiple investigations
Current status: Belt settlement resident for personal safety

TESTIMONY (Recorded August 2057)

"I saw the whole thing. I was standing at the back of the group when Jean announced all our permits were denied. People started asking questions - normal questions. 'What's wrong with my documents?' 'Can someone else review them?' 'When can we reapply?'

Nobody was aggressive. Nobody was threatening. People were confused and scared. Some had traveled for days. Families with children. Elderly travelers. Everyone with legitimate paperwork.

Jean refused to answer. Just kept saying 'The decision is final. Clear the checkpoint area.' When Thomas Chen approached her about his sick daughter, Jean was cold. Dismissive. His wife started crying. Their little girl asked 'Are we going home now?'

That's when Jean said it. Clear as day: 'I said clear them. Lethal force authorized.'

I watched the guards hesitate. One asked 'Ma'am, clarify - lethal force?' Jean repeated: 'They were told to leave. They're refusing. Clear them.'

Then the shooting started. The Chen family dropped first. Then chaos. I ran. I heard bullets. Screaming. I made it to cover behind a concrete barrier.

When it stopped, I came back. Bodies everywhere. Children dead. Mothers dead next to their kids. Blood on the checkpoint pavement.

Jean walked through the scene like she was inspecting paperwork. No horror. No regret. Just cold efficiency. Collecting evidence for her report.

I testified at three separate investigations. Every time, Authority concluded Jean acted appropriately. That's when I knew the system was beyond reform. I left for the Belt because I couldn't live in a society that calls murder 'appropriate use of force.'"

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