My City In Ruins

The systemic racism in the Minneapolis Police Department (and, indeed, the entire country) has destroyed large swaths of my city. My heart is broken but I have to admit that when I saw the 3rd police precinct burning to the ground early this morning, I felt a sense of the old order being washed away. The media is portraying them as “thugs” or “hooligans” but maybe the people who torched the police station were just ordinary people who had enough of the racism in law enforcement.

John Lennon wrote in the song "Revolution," “When you talk about destruction, don’t you know you that can count me out...in...” That’s where I’m at this morning.

We are no longer going to tolerate white officers killing African American males. Period. If it happens again in an unjustified fashion, the buildings that house institutional racism will be destroyed. We will not take it any longer.

I didn’t write this it’s copy paste but it’s powerful and you should see it.

To help understand what white privilege is...

I can do all of these things without thinking twice about it... I can relax in the comfort of my own home (#BothemSean and #AtatianaJefferson and #BreonnaTaylor). I can go jogging (#AmaudArbery). I can ask for help after being in a car crash (#JonathanFerrell and #RenishaMcBride). I can have a cellphone (#StephonClark). I can leave a party to get to safety (#JordanEdwards). I can play loud music (#JordanDavis). I can sell CDs (#AltonSterling). I can sleep (#AiyanaJones) I can walk from the corner store (#MikeBrown). I can play cops and robbers (#TamirRice). I can go to church (#Charleston9). I can walk home with Skittles (#TrayvonMartin). I can hold a hairbrush while leaving my own bachelor party (#SeanBell). I can party on New Years (#OscarGrant). I can get a traffic ticket (#SandraBland). I can lawfully carry a weapon (#PhilandoCastile). I can break down on a public road with car problems (#CoreyJones). I can shop at Walmart (#JohnCrawford) . I can have a disabled vehicle (#TerrenceCrutcher). I can read a book in my own car (#KeithScott). I can be a 10yr old walking with my grandfather (#CliffordGlover). I can decorate for a party (#ClaudeReese). I can ask a cop a question (#RandyEvans). I can cash a check in peace (#YvonneSmallwood). I can take out my wallet (#AmadouDiallo). I can run (#WalterScott). I can breathe (#EricGarner). I can live (#FreddieGray). I can ask someone to put a leash on their dog when it is required in the public park we are in. #ChristianCooper) I CAN BE ARRESTED WITHOUT THE FEAR OF BEING MURDERED. #GeorgeFloyd) #BlackLivesMatter