I am with you.
But this issue blurs the color lines. This is rich vs. poor. Powerful vs. powerless.
As a black woman who has come face to face with the barrel of a police gun...I am with you.
I know you are angry, I know it hurts. But perhaps it's time to change the course of this narrative. This story is ours to tell, let it be one of peace and activism, of change and progress. Let us not become what some expect of us. We have proven ourselves worthy, now let us listen to those that do not understand, use their criticism, learn and grow from it to further our cause.
As long as our police are militarized protest is dead. Take to the streets only with the intention of bringing communities together.
Get people voting, running for office, educate, organize, uplift...inspire.
Let us sit down with our local law enforcement and tell them our demands:
1. Body cameras on all officers (available to public viewing).
2. Community policing
3. Deescalation training
4. Hold offending officers accountable through independent investigation and prosecution
5. Involve the community in policy decisions
6. Open and honest discussion about racial/ poor/ powerless bias
We are called "thugs and rioters" by some because one clip of someone doing something wrong is attributed to us all. We can not control that but here is something we can do:
Let us flood the news with clips of us doing a lot of things right.
If people fear the movement there will always be a need for the movement.
Now is the time to find solutions, the fact is it's not just black men anymore. This issue affects us all. Let us use our power and creativity and show our strength in the face of adversity. Let us build up our communities and change the status quo.
#BLMUnity
I am with you,
Mrs. Biko
