I apologize for my last few days of absence from my blog. I needed a few days to think and get together my thoughts concerning what I am writing about here, today.
The following topic needs no introduction. By now, you should be very aware of what is occurring in the US right now as of May 25th, 2020 (but really catalyzing way back in the 1960's). On May 25th, George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin. Three other officers (Thomas K. Lane, Tou Thao, and J. Alexander Kueng) were on the scene and helped to hold down the already handcuffed Mr. Floyd, all the while not intervening to stop Chauvin from eventually choking Floyd until he died. This event is sadly only one of many many more like it, as we all have come accustomed to hearing about.
There is no way we can allow this negligence and total disregard of human life to continue. All around the country now, there are countless protests occurring to bring attention to this event and to the longstanding racism and prejudice towards black people that has plagued our country for far too long. Although we should always be working and pushing for equality and anti-racist sentiments, now it is especially important to join together to stand against the racism facing our country. We are strong in numbers. A drop in the bucket might seem small in the grand scheme of things, but remember that a single drop could be all it takes to make the bucket overflow.
We need to do everything and anything in our power to spread the word, stand in solidarity with those afflicted by prejudice, racism, and discrimination, and to VOTE, CALL, and PLEDGE for/to individuals within the government who have real power and the platform to create the shift needed to keep black individuals safe.
Here are some things you can do to help...
Text Floyd to 55156
Text Justice to 668366
Sign this petition
Protest (if safe to do so with health precautions concerning COVID19).
If you plan to attend a protest, do your research first. Go prepared with protections in case of violence, tear gas, and rubber bullets. Do not incite violence from other protesters or from police. Turn off your cellular data, but make sure to tell someone you trust where you will be and when. (Hope for the best and prepare for the worst).
Use your social media platforms to fight the injustice. Spread the word.
Listen to the stories of discrimination. Do not judge. Do not become defensive.
Check your privilege.
DO NOT dehumanize the victims of police violence, the protesters trying to put an end to it, nor the looters involved in some of the protests. They have faced centuries and decades of discrimination. They are HURT. They are TIRED. They have been MURDERED. The absolute least thing you can do is empathize.
Reach out to your local politicians and ask, "What is your policy on ending police brutality?"
Join Campaign Zero
Push to remove and punish bad police officers. This is not to say that all police officers are bad. This is just to say that individual officers who have done something wrong should not get a pass or protection from their department. Their job is to protect, so if they're not even doing that, then they need to GO.
Support black writers, artists, creators, and voices. If you have a platform to share, use the hell out of it.
Our people are hurting. They need our love, support, and help. Do what you can now, or be remembered for everything you didn't do.
"There comes a time when silence is betrayal."
Martin Luther King Jr.
And that time is now.