This past week a Police officer, a man that swore to serve and protect the people stood with his knee on the neck of George Floyd for eight minutes while two other cops held him down and another watched ultimately murdering George Floyd. He was unarmed and he was non-violent, yet none of it mattered because he was black. This was not some coincidence. George Floyd was killed by a racist white cop because he was black.
George’s story is not unique. Sadly there are many other’s like it. Unarmed black people are being killed by the Police for “blank(ing) while black”. Every week there’s a new hashtag. Every time our hearts break. Every time we are filled with fear. Every time we have to fight the draining battle remaining people that our BLACK LIVES MATTER.
When is this going to end? When are people going to realize that this isn’t normal? When are people going to realize this isn’t a black issue? This is a human rights issue. A systematic flaw in the Criminal justice system. Police officers should not feel comfortable killing unarmed black people and they shouldn’t be able to get away with it.
Even if you want to pretend this isn’t about race (Because it definitely is about race) it’s still wrong. People are going to jail for selling dime bags longer than police officers are going for murder. That is a problem!!! Only a privileged people can ignore that .
We are sick and tired of being sick and tired. Something has to give. Systematic oppression has to tore down to the ground. Every racial bias in every institution has to be thrown away. The cognitive bias and prejudice that make people think the mere presence of a black person is a threat to their life has to be corrected.
As a community we only can love, support, protect and care for ourselves so much. The rest of the country can not sit and watch. This isn’t the time for non black people to mind their business. Not being racist isn’t enough. Get up and stand with us.
Being anti-racist isn’t something that deserves a pat on the back. Everyone should be upset by this. Having empathy and being able to see outside of yourself isn’t gold star worthy. You are not invited to “the cookout”. You are not your communities resident white savior for being a caring human being. If you are going to use your privilege for good remember to leave you entitlement at home.
BLACK LIVES MATTER BLACK LIVES MATTER
https://www.change.org/p/mayor-jacob-frey-justice-for-george-floyd
Ninth Hour Fiction 