In light of recent events, I want to make sure my family and friends all know that I love you. I want my family and friends of color to know that I support you and will do my best by you to stand up for what is right and just. I want my family and friends in law enforcement to know that I support you and I know you are working hard to protect us and keep us safe. I am holding you in my heart and in my prayers.
I didn’t intend to write about this today, cause honestly I had no idea about either of these shooting had happened, I was totally out of the loop. I normally don’t voice my opinions or thought on this blog as I try to keep my post contained to a specific niche, but I decided that I had a few things to say, but I actually should have began back after the Orlando shootings.
Scrolling through my FB feed this morning I came across the videos of both Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Philando Castile in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. I watched the live streamed video that was filmed during the altercation by the girlfriend of Philando Castile, Diamond Lavish Reynolds during the whole event. My mouth fell open to watch this play out LIVE. My blood began to boil as I watch this injustice happening,for all the world to see.
There was no lack of empathy from my end for this woman sitting in the car with her very young daughter having to watch this man been shoot in front of them and dying. Scared to make any moves herself in fear of being shot too. The officer had been given notice that he had a concealed lic. weapon on him, yet the Officer still pulled the trigger. Where’s the justification for this? Where is the attempt to get him help?
Next as I continue to scroll I come across the the Alton Sterling Video, yet again another show of injustice. These 2 men, shot, execution style pretty much. No attempts to truly determine the reason behind the victim’s initial meeting with either Officers involved but rather the officers took matters into their own hands, ending the lives of 2. All these unarmed killings just instills more hate and fear within the black communities. Did these individuals commit crimes that warranted these brutal actions?
These deaths are inexcusable! All these lives matter! My heart breaks for these families, my heart breaks to see that nothing has changed within our Justice system to stop all this racial violence. So many black men have died at the hands of the police in these past recent year, too many infact. The fact of the matter is that black lives in America are under assault “Black Lives Matter”! This is a cry to make a difference in the unjust of racial equality. We can either stand idle, quiet and be a spectator or we can speak up and rally around our black communities with support. To say “enough is enough” with this matter and nothing changes, than Not Enough has been done to make sure that Enough is where it stops.
I don’t know what it means to be in a black mans shoes, as I’m a white Latina woman. But what I do know is that injustice is injustice, and if I, as a white minority, can’t find the words to say when I see injustice done upon anyone regardless of race, sex or religion, than I too would be at fault as being a part of this epidemic called “racism”. When we can’t find compassion or empathy against inequality and injustice than We Too become part of the bigger problem we are facing in this nation.
“I want every white person in this room, who would be happy to be treated as this society in general treats our citizens, our black citizens. If you as a white person would be happy to receive the same treatment that our black citizens do in this society – please stand! – You didn’t understand the directions. If you white folks want to be treated the way blacks are in this society – stand! – Nobody is standing here. That says very plainly that you know what’s happening. You know you don’t want it for you. I want to know why you are so willing to accept it or to allow it to happen for others.” – Jane Elliot
This one Police Officer Nakia Jones made sure to let everyone know how she felt about the racism and injustice within her “Blue” community.
