The murder of George Lloyd on Memorial Day has set off protests not just around the country but around the world! It’s been impossible to ignore the rage caused by 400 years of injustice, and this on top of the havoc caused by the pandemic.
What to do?
Here’s part of what President Obama said on Facebook: (I’ve added a couple of headings and bold highlights)
President Obama in the famous photo in the Oval Office
“As millions of people across the country take to the streets and raise their voices in response to the killing of George Floyd and the ongoing problem of unequal justice, many people have reached out asking how we can sustain momentum to bring about real change.
Ultimately, it’s going to be up to a new generation of activists to shape strategies that best fit the times. But I believe there are some basic lessons to draw from past efforts that are worth remembering.
First, the waves of protests across the country represent a genuine and legitimate frustration over a decades-long failure to reform police practices and the broader criminal justice system in the United States. The overwhelming majority of participants have been peaceful, courageous, responsible, and inspiring.
Second, I’ve heard some suggest that the recurrent problem of racial bias in our criminal justice system proves that only protests and direct action can bring about change, and that voting and participation in electoral politics is a waste of time. I couldn’t disagree more. The point of protest is to raise public awareness, to put a spotlight on injustice, and to make the powers that be uncomfortable; in fact, throughout American history, it’s often only been in response to protests and civil disobedience that the political system has even paid attention to marginalized communities.
Local Elections!
Moreover, it’s important for us to understand which levels of government have the biggest impact on our criminal justice system and police practices. When we think about politics, a lot of us focus only on the presidency and the federal government. And yes, we should be fighting to make sure that we have a president, a Congress, a U.S. Justice Department, and a federal judiciary that actually recognize the ongoing, corrosive role that racism plays in our society and want to do something about it. But the elected officials who matter most in reforming police departments and the criminal justice system work at the state and local levels.
So the bottom line is this: if we want to bring about real change, then the choice isn’t between protest and politics. We have to do both. We have to mobilize to raise awareness, and we have to organize and cast our ballots to make sure that we elect candidates who will act on reform.
Be Specific
Finally, the more specific we can make demands for criminal justice and police reform, the harder it will be for elected officials to just offer lip service to the cause and then fall back into business as usual once protests have gone away. The content of that reform agenda will be different for various communities. Tailoring reforms for each community will require local activists and organizations to do their research and educate fellow citizens in their community on what strategies work best.
I recognize that these past few months have been hard and dispiriting – that the fear, sorrow, uncertainty, and hardship of a pandemic have been compounded by tragic reminders that prejudice and inequality still shape so much of American life. But watching the heightened activism of young people in recent weeks, of every race and every station, makes me hopeful. If, going forward, we can channel our justifiable anger into peaceful, sustained, and effective action, then this moment can be a real turning point in our nation’s long journey to live up to our highest ideals.”
Starting Points
Below are two links he included as starting points. He said, “One leads to a report and toolkit developed by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and based on the work of the Task Force on 21st Century Policing that I formed when I was in the White House. And if you’re interested in taking concrete action, we’ve also created a dedicated site at the Obama Foundation to aggregate and direct you to useful resources and organizations who’ve been fighting the good fight at the local and national levels for years.”
obama.org/policing-civil-
obama.org/anguish-and-action
Obama’s complete statement is here.
Advice from Sister Grannies
You’ve read about my group of Sister Grannies before. Yesterday we talked a lot about the protests and what, if anything, we can do. Ellie’s granddaughter sent information with suggestions. You can find that here.
How to be an Antiracist
Judy said she had a solution! Her essay had us laughing but also conveyed important points! You can read that next time! And after that, I’ll include the piece I wrote for our meeting yesterday.
Conversation: How to Be An Antiracist
Next Monday, June 8, at 7 pm ET TEAM Westport and the Westport Library will hold a virtual conversation about Ibram Kendi’s book.
And you don’t even have to be nearby to take part! Click the link if you want to register.
What have you been reading, writing, and saying in response to the current events?
