I was so proud of our town last night when I saw how many people turned out for the Black Lives Matter rally and march. It was the most diverse group I’ve evr seen gathered in one place in Brattleboro; white people; black people, asian people, students, retirees, families with kids in tow, business owners, farmers, librarians…it was an impressive sight. It was a peaceful and powerful event and the police officers present seemed to understand that it was not – in any way an indictment of them but rather a unified attempt to stop the never ending violence in this country.
Reading the comments in the article about the same event on the Reformer’s FB page this morning elicited a very differnt feeling in me. While some of the comments were positive, most were displays of blatant, in your face racism, hatred and ignorance. Many commenters called BLM a “terrorist group” like ISIS and said the rally was only meant to be anti police. Horrible cartoons and memes were posted- people seeming quite proud about openly racist and, of course, the inevitable “terrorist” cartoons about our President.
I’m at a loss to understand how so many people don’t get that unless you are a black person living in the United States right now you have no idea- none at all – about what that is like. I can’t imagine what it must be like to be the mother of a black son. You must wonder if you will ever see him alive again each and every time he leaves your home.
I believe that racism is systemic not only in many police departments across the country but in our judicial system; our prisons; our sentencing guidelines. And, I also don’t beleive that every single police officer is guilty. Most take this dangerous job to make their community a safer, better place for everyone. But, it’s naive and deadly to not recognize that there are cops who should not be in that job. If you are ruled by racism, by fear, by hate, by ignorance you should not be wearing a badge and wielding a gun -making decisions about who lives or dies based on the color of their skin.
Whatever you may think about Black Lives Matter you must know that things need to change. That the divide between black communities and law enforcement needs to be looked at and revamped. That those few “bad apple” officers need to be removed from their jobs. That black parents need to be able to stop giving their sons and daughters a list of rules to abide by when interacting with police to hopefully insure they come home. That all races need to be treated fairly and equally.
I’m still proud of our community for coming out last night in such large numbers. I was heartened to see so many children there. This is when they learn to be compassionate, active and courageous or they learn to hate those who are different.
Thank you Kris...
“Most (police) take this dangerous job to make their community a safer, better place for everyone.”
It’s my understanding that police rarely live in the community they police. However an officer’s job is internally sized up for theirs needs, goals, etc. it cannot be assumed that community policing is meant to be communities policed by their own community.
The reason Black Lives Matters is an organization is because of the disparity in the quality of life they face. Two hundred years treated as property is embedded in the American devaluation of individual black people to this day. This country is sick (clinically mentally ill) with racism, sexism and it’s love for violence.
While I am mobility challenged I wish I had known about the rally. Maybe I could have attended. I couldn’t find a story of this upcoming rally when I searched iBrattleboro and I am not on FB.
It's very different than when
It’s very different than when I was growing up . Then ( way back in the 50s!) the cops who ‘walked the beat’ in my neighbor hood lived 2 blocks away or next door to my best friend or across the street from my school. So, in my post I was referring more to the communities that police officers work in. They get to know people and hopefully care about them. People get to know them and respect the job they do. There needs to be mutual respect and caring built up again- not fear and hatred.
The BLM rally was not well advertised – it was thankfully a strong” word of mouth” event. I had meant to post about it on ibrattleboro and then spaced out about it. I will be sure to do that the next time.
You may appreciate this
The Movement for Black Lives started a petition to Black peoples and our allies stating:
We all witnessed the horrific violence of the past week. Since then, we’ve seen the attacks on our movement intensify. In Baton Rouge, Chicago, New York, Minneapolis and beyond, we are under attack. We were reminded that despite the gains of our movement, we have work to do to end the systemic violence that visits Black communities every day.
The Movement for Black Lives has released a pledge, asking everyone to show courage in the face of fear and political attacks. Ava Duvernay, Spike Lee, Jesse Williams and organizers around the world have taken a public stand. Now we need you to join over 10,000 people who have signed that pledge and recommit to this movement for justice.
Join us, and pledge to do the same: Stand with the Movement for Black Lives.
I don’t have the exact url for the pledge, but this might help: take-the-pledge-we-are-the-movement-for-black-lives