8:46

Learning To Breathe

Memorial Day 2020, we all celebrated those we lost in war. Later that evening, 46 year old George Floyd was killed during an arrest for allegedly using a counterfeit 20 dollar bill to purchase cigarettes at a local convenience store. George Floyd was murdered by a police officer who kept his knee on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. This notorious arrest sparked riots against police brutality across all 50 states and internationally – the whole world couldn’t breathe.

In the wake of these incidents a lot of information has been circulating online. As I have read and soaked in this information, two things became increasingly apparent to me:
1) Racism is a result of ignorance.
2) Silence is not an acceptable response. 

So then what do we do? How do we become a good ally to the cause? 

1) Take the initiative, educate yourself. There have been many books, articles and documentaries written on this subject. Allow me to share a few: 

• Two ladies, Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein complied a list of anti-racism resources.
• For those that have always wanted to go to Yale, there is an open course on African American History: From Emancipation to the Present.
• Rachel Cargle has curated a syllabus of sorts on Unlearning America’s Birth at the The Great Unlearn. 

2) Contribute time and/or money. What resources do you have that can be used to help the movement towards true black liberation? There are established organizations that have been doing this work for a long time; help them out. 

• Black Lives Matter : Founded by Alicia Garza and Patrisse Khan-Cullors in 2013, this organization focuses on combating anti-Black state-sanctioned violence and the oppression of all Black people.
• Donate through ActBlue Charities to a bail fund, mutual fund or activist organization of your choice. They have over 70 funds listed that you can either chose to allocate your donation to or allow the charity to split your donation evenly to the funds. 
• Donate to the George Floyd Memorial Fund established to cover funeral and burial expenses, mental and grief counseling, lodging and travel for all court proceedings, and to assist George Floyd’s family in the days to come as they continue to seek justice for George.  A portion of these funds will also go to the Estate of George Floyd for the benefit and care of his children and their educational fund.
• Join or donate to the National Police Accountability Project : They are a project of the National Lawyers Guild seeking to effect change in a flawed legal system. Their mission is to promote the accountability of law enforcement officers and their employers for violations of the Constitution and the laws of the United States.
• Donate to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): For 100 years, ACLU with their attorneys, have been at the center of thousands of cases nationwide on behalf of clients whose rights have been violated.

3) Vote: Voting is an American principle and the most basic democratic right on which most of our laws are based. To effect real change, we HAVE to vote: 

• Sheriffs, judges, prosecutors, and in some cities, even police chiefs are elected in some states. We have the opportunity to push for unbiased law enforcement and influence police brutality with your ballot. You can search for upcoming elections being held in your states and get involved. It’s your community; these are the people who will eventually decide what happens in it.
• Donate or Join When We All Vote : Co-funded by Michelle Obama, this team is here to make sure every eligible American is registered and ready to vote. You can look up voter events, check registration status or even volunteer to join their Voting Squad.
• Research the candidates: VoteSmart.Org allows you to examine and get the facts on the candidates and their positions on many key issues. They have an app (On Point) and even a phone line 1-888-VoteSmart that you can call to have them do the research for you. It’s an unbiased and easy way to enlighten you on the candidates before you vote for them.

 It’s been a month since the protests started and despite a pandemic, racism is recognized as a major a public health crisis. There have been small wins made. Police officers themselves are being policed and many cases where black/brown people died during arrests have been re-opened for review.

• Chokeholds have been banned in some states with the hope it would be banned in more states.
• Chemical irritants, riot gear and stun grenades are prohibited from being used on demonstrators.
• Police disciplinary records are being made public.
• In some states, fines are being levied against officers who turn their cameras off.

A lot has been done on Police Reform but that’s still not enough. We have to keep up the good fight until racism and police brutality are no longer the pandemic that it is for black people. We need fair laws and wise policies to bring about the change that we seek. As believers, it is our responsibility to pray for our leaders;

for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 1 Timothy 2:2 – NIV

We must see this problem as a problem of the human heart. It is when we recognize this that we can truly pray for God to change our hearts and work on us from within. We all have implicit biases – and only God can truly change our hearts. Let’s learn, pray and wholly surrender ourselves to this change. It’s only then can we, without reservation, say we’re “…One Nation Under God…”.