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| One of many global protests against racial injustice (CNN) |
Black lives matter. I say that knowing full well that this this phrase has since become a movement wherein some of its leaders have shown antisemitic tendencies and rhetoric. Which is of course abhorrent. But I do agree with the sentiment, if not the movement.
Some people feel that the correct phrase should be ‘ALL lives matter’. Which of course is true. But I am with those that object to saying it that way. Because it is important to understand that it is racism that allows some people to actually feel that black lives really don’t matter that much.
Which is why I am solidly behind all the protests going on in this country over the past few days. The death of George Floyd at the hand (or should I say knee) of Derek Chauvin a (now former) Minneapolis cop last week has generated outrage by all people of good will. There have been justifiable protests about this all over the world.
I get it. In the minds of far too many people, black people don’t really matter. Too many black people have been killed by police ‘doing their jobs’. Except that those killings would not have happened in most cases if the people they apprehended were white. Black people are routinely treated differently than white people by white police who assume guilt when a black man comes under suspicion for any reason. I don’t think that is arguable. I am fairly certain that racism -whether intentional or not - was as the core of what happened in Minneapolis last week.
There is a sense by many black people that the rest of America is indifferent to it. Which may be true in a lot of cases. They might see a story like this, shake their heads and go on with the rest of their day without ever thinking abut it again. Until the next time it happens.
There is a sense by many black people that the rest of America is indifferent to it. Which may be true in a lot of cases. They might see a story like this, shake their heads and go on with the rest of their day without ever thinking abut it again. Until the next time it happens.
Imagine if every time there was a crime committed it was a Jew that was apprehended and treated like dirt - guilty until proven innocent. Actually you don’t have to imagine it. That is exactly how Jews were treated in Nazi Germany after Hitler came to power in the 1930s. And no, the two situations are not comparable.
Imagine raising children in such an environment. What good does it do that a black President was elected to office when the common black man is treated like dirt?
Imagine raising children in such an environment. What good does it do that a black President was elected to office when the common black man is treated like dirt?
The latest murder of a black man by white cop was the last straw.A lot of black people have just plain had it! There is a culture of racism in the fraternity of certain white cops all over the country - even while there are many black cops serving along side them. That culture has to change. That is what these protests are all about. Or should be about.
So, as I said, I am with the protesters. What I am not with is the extremes of violence that has ensued at many of these protests. Which has devolved into all sorts of serious mayhem. Including destruction of private and public property; smashing car windows; setting police cars on fire, throwing Molotov Cocktails at buildings and cars; taunting the police sent there to protect them - endangering their lives and the lives of legitimate protesters. The violence we are now witnessing is not from those who are there for the right reasons. For the most part they have been protesting peacefully.
It has become obvious to most observers that the violence is fomented by extremists and radicals who have infiltrated and are taking advantage of the protests. Their motives have nothing to do with the goals of the protests. Their purpose it is to undermine our way of life by fomenting chaos and destruction. And very likely drag some of the peaceful protesters into the fray who are frustrated and angry over their station in American life.
It’s a perfect storm. which is exacerbated by the frustration over the COVID-19 restrictions most of us have endured for the past three months. Which includes the protesters. That alone could cause some people to lash out at the slightest provocation. Which in the case of George Floyd’s murder-by-cop is anything but slight.
As if that were not enough, there are the looters taking advantage of these protests - ransacking stores and stealing all of their merchandise. They could not care less about the cause.They are merely taking advantage of. an opportunity to steal knowing they will likely get away with - blaming it all on racial injustice.
So instead of peaceful protests we now have mob violence of such magnitude that many states including my own Illinois has called out the National Guard to help protect American citizens and their property.
The people getting hurt the most are the black store owners and businessmen whose establishments have been destroyed by this violence. I saw one black man interviewed by the news media in tears because his new business venture was demolished. And he was not the only one.
City and state officials - whether black or white - such as Illinois Governor Jay Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot were unified in their disgust and condemnation of the extremists, criminals, and thugs causing the looting and violence. Both are unified in their support for the National Guard that was called upon for help.
As of last night over 6500 of these thugs have been arrested in this country. And hopefully jailed. Where they should stay for a very long time if there is any justice the world. Hopefully a lot more will join them. We must however never allow the narrative to become that innocent black protesters were arrested for exercising their free speech rights. Because nothing can be further from the truth.
Aside from the obvious pain and suffering Derek Chauvin has caused to the family of the George Floyd, the damage he has also done to the country cannot be overstated. His cruel and careless treatment of a black man that resulted in his death is what precipitated all of this. If there is any humanity left at all in this individual, he has to realize what he has done. Which should haunt him for the rest of his life.
It’s a perfect storm. which is exacerbated by the frustration over the COVID-19 restrictions most of us have endured for the past three months. Which includes the protesters. That alone could cause some people to lash out at the slightest provocation. Which in the case of George Floyd’s murder-by-cop is anything but slight.
As if that were not enough, there are the looters taking advantage of these protests - ransacking stores and stealing all of their merchandise. They could not care less about the cause.They are merely taking advantage of. an opportunity to steal knowing they will likely get away with - blaming it all on racial injustice.
So instead of peaceful protests we now have mob violence of such magnitude that many states including my own Illinois has called out the National Guard to help protect American citizens and their property.
The people getting hurt the most are the black store owners and businessmen whose establishments have been destroyed by this violence. I saw one black man interviewed by the news media in tears because his new business venture was demolished. And he was not the only one.
City and state officials - whether black or white - such as Illinois Governor Jay Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot were unified in their disgust and condemnation of the extremists, criminals, and thugs causing the looting and violence. Both are unified in their support for the National Guard that was called upon for help.
As of last night over 6500 of these thugs have been arrested in this country. And hopefully jailed. Where they should stay for a very long time if there is any justice the world. Hopefully a lot more will join them. We must however never allow the narrative to become that innocent black protesters were arrested for exercising their free speech rights. Because nothing can be further from the truth.
Aside from the obvious pain and suffering Derek Chauvin has caused to the family of the George Floyd, the damage he has also done to the country cannot be overstated. His cruel and careless treatment of a black man that resulted in his death is what precipitated all of this. If there is any humanity left at all in this individual, he has to realize what he has done. Which should haunt him for the rest of his life.
As bad as all this is, there is yet more. The violence feeds the hate-mongering by white supremacists who must really be enjoying this. I can just see them all slapping themselves on the belly gleefully exclaiming how all this black violence justifies their hateful racism. Which just might catch an ear or two of mainstream America.
Not so insignificant is the fact that precautions of social distancing that had been taken by these protesters has been thrown to the wind. Massive angry crowds all over the country shouting at the top of their lungs is a good way to spread the COVID-19 contagion and cause a spike in the disease. Even if many of them wore masks Which many did not.
Black people are aggrieved by a culture of racism that exists in many areas of this country. Some intentional and some unintentional. Far too much of it by police. Although I believe it is a minority, it is nonetheless a significant minority.
That said, I would be remiss if I did not point out that there are many good cops without a racist bone in their body. I believe the vast majority of them are like that. That was demonstrated by the many white police officers that joined in solidarity with black people in peaceful protest.
In the meantime black lives do matter. We need to change the culture of racism to whatever extent it exists at any and every level of society. And root out this evil so that the American motto of liberty and justice for all can finally become a reality for everyone.
That said, I would be remiss if I did not point out that there are many good cops without a racist bone in their body. I believe the vast majority of them are like that. That was demonstrated by the many white police officers that joined in solidarity with black people in peaceful protest.
In the meantime black lives do matter. We need to change the culture of racism to whatever extent it exists at any and every level of society. And root out this evil so that the American motto of liberty and justice for all can finally become a reality for everyone.