May 29, 2020 – What It Takes to Get the Pandemic Off the Front Pages
From my personal Facebook page:
Morning out in the middle of the Pacific. Don’t know that I can call it “good.”
2020-05-29
Woke up this morning to the news that there was a riot in Minneapolis last night…again. And in LA, Denver, Chicago, NYC, and Louisville. Seven people got shot in Louisville. Seven.
At this point you either see the injustice POC endure, or you don’t. You either believe something needs to change, or you don’t.
If you don’t know what to do, I say keep your thoughts and prayers. Don’t bother with the ribbons or flags or t shirts.
What’s needed is for people to engage with their leaders and their government. That means more than just voting every so often. It means calling, writing, volunteering. It means supporting civics education and civics organizations. If you don’t feel qualified then get educated on the issues, or focus on the areas you are qualified in.
It means taking the responsibilities of being a citizen seriously, and not taking the rights of citizenship for granted.
The riot was in response to the police killing another Black man. This time his name was George Floyd.
The killing was recorded by bystanders and shared via social media and with the press. Again.
Everyone can see George Floyd on the ground with the policeman’s knee on his throat. Everyone can hear George Floyd say he can breath and call out to his mother.
That was four days ago.
People are taking to the streets. And so are the police.
Signs are being waved. And slogans are being chanted. And buildings are burning. And bullets and teargas are flying.
Not sure where this is headed.
