The killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer last week was truly sickening to watch, a heartless embodiment of the discriminatory policing that endangers African American men. Whatever combination of racial sensitivity training and body cameras was instituted in that police department in response to the activism of a few years ago, it did not prevent this atrocity from occurring. People across America are justifiably outraged, and hundreds of protests have coalesced in cities nationwide. The vast majority of these protests are nonviolent, a collective plea for justice and systematic change. By and large, Americans agree that a racial disparity in law enforcement behavior is inherently wrong, and the logical next step would be a broad public discourse on how to overhaul police protocols and repair relationships to serve all communities.
Instead, the images of shattered glass, burning vehicles, and police aggression have gone viral, triggering a visceral emotional response. The conversation has devolved into a vicious debate over whether property destruction and police counter-force are justified, feeding off the deep partisan and racial divides that already pervade American society. The president has angrily pointed a finger at Antifa, a disorganized ‘group’ of anti-government individuals who appear to have co-opted a few of the protests to strike a blow against “fascists.” By stoking the fears of conservative America, any escalation by these radical actors results in discrediting the overall cause.
However, something more sinister is likely at play: numerous reports have indicated a coordinated interference from white supremacist operatives. Fake Twitter accounts that pretended to be Antifa before getting shut down. Young white internet trolls with skateboards and spray paint. Pallets of brick and canisters of gasoline that conveniently appear on protest march routes. If there is an extremist plot to frame black demonstrators as violent criminals, which I find highly probable based on preliminary releases from several police departments, it’s working. Because the dialogue is almost entirely focused on “riots” without addressing the roots of systemic injustice.
What I want to see is a groundswell of support for the fundamental message of these protests. I want to see people of all colors, but especially white people, come forward in solidarity with their black neighbors in begging for real human equality under the law. I want to see legal experts take on these discriminatory power structures in the courts. Peaceful protests are really a wonderful thing, but they’re only the first step and sometimes fall on deaf ears. Violent protests are scary and upsetting, and they’re only being defended by those weary of advocating through peaceful avenues for years without meaningful progress. I hate seeing the destruction of businesses and public buildings, I hate seeing militarized police forces deploying tear gas and rubber bullets on nonviolent civilians, and I especially hate that the worst of the unrest was incited by bad actors with nefarious intentions.
But ultimately this isn’t about what I feel or what I want. As a white man, I may never fully empathize with the disadvantages and dangers of living while black. I just want to express my support, listen for ways to be a better ally, and extend a helping hand in fighting for the change our country so desperately needs. And in the meantime, I will ensure, at least in my circles, that that message doesn’t get blacked out.
Worldly Observations 