There are some things in life that should be simple.
Calling 911 is one of them.
Three years ago, on March 24, 2023 my baby brother Jesse was run over and left to die on a dirt road in Hatfield, Massachusetts.
The person who hit him is responsible for ending his life. That truth does not change.
But what happened next is something we cannot ignore.
There were 10 to 15 people there.
For up to 45 minutes, no one called 911.
Instead, there were conversations about what to do, what to say, how to avoid getting in trouble, how to hide what was there. Decisions were being made just not the one that mattered most.
No one chose to pick up the phone.
And that delay matters.
The Moment That Changes Everything
In an emergency, time is everything.
Minutes matter. Sometimes seconds matter.
Calling 911 doesn’t require training. It doesn’t require certainty. You don’t have to have all the answers.
You just have to act.
Because on the other end of that call is someone trained to help someone who can send emergency services and guide you through what to do next.
That one decision can be the difference between life and death.
Jesse deserved that chance.
Why People Don’t Act
There’s a term for what happens in situations like this: the bystander effect.
It means that when more people are present, individuals are actually less likely to step in.
People hesitate.
They look around.
They assume someone else will do it.
And when no one acts, that inaction spreads.
But real life isn’t a study.
In real life, that hesitation can cost someone everything.
This Isn’t About Blame It’s About Responsibility
The person who hit Jesse is responsible for what happened to him.
That does not change.
But being present in an emergency comes with a responsibility too.
Not a legal argument. Not a debate.
A human one.
If someone is hurt, if someone is dying, the right thing to do is simple:
You call for help.
Immediately.
What We Need People to Understand
If you ever find yourself in a situation where someone is hurt:
Do not assume someone else has called.
Do not wait to see what others are doing.
Do not worry about being wrong.
Call 911.
Let professionals take over.
It is always better for multiple people to call than for no one to call at all.
Why Jesse’s Law Matters
Jesse’s Law is about more than legislation.
It’s about awareness.
It’s about shifting how people respond in critical moments.
It’s about making it clear that standing by and doing nothing is not neutral it has consequences.
Because the reality is, this could happen anywhere.
To anyone.
And the outcome can depend on whether someone chooses to act.
For Jesse
Jesse should have had a chance.
A chance for help to arrive.
A chance for someone to step in.
A chance to survive.
That chance starts with one person making a different choice.
Take Action
We are asking for your support in helping us push this forward.
Please take a moment to sign and share our petition for Jesse’s Law:
Because awareness matters.
Action matters.
And in an emergency it can mean everything.
From Jesse’s Justice
No one should have to walk through grief alone.
Through free grief resources, advocacy, education, and community support, we strive to honor Jesse’s life by helping others navigate theirs.
If this article resonated with you, please consider sharing it. You never know who may need these words today.
🖤♥️ For Jesse. For Justice.