Protesting

I’m writing this after 2 nights of protesting for justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and the thousands more who have been beaten and murdered at the hands of police. I’m protesting for criminal justice reform, police reform and accountability, the end of white supremacy, reparations, affirmative action, defunding the police, investing in communities, and more. 

Although I can never understand the experiences of Black people in America, and I’m privileged to be feeling emotions instead of fearing for my life, I am feeling a lot of things. I feel:

• Angry. Towards the mistreatment, aggression, and brutality against people, just because of their skin color

• Saddened. That a system so unjust as this exists. That it’s set up to keep those in power in power, and that it’s so easily perpetuated by well-meaning people.

• Confused. I want to better understand people outside my owm bb bubble. What were those cops thinking? Why would people oppose this movement? How does someone like Trump, who is promoting violence and racist values, still have support?

• Shameful. That it took me 25 years to fully wake up to this injustice. That I could dedicate my time and money afforded to me by privilege to help others. That I believe in equality and correcting wrongdoing, but I was not acting in accordance to my values

• Empowered. Black leaders have been calling for allyship and instructing white people on how we can help for so long. Thanks to their leadership, I know my place in the movement and have a guide book on how I can fight

• Sacred. Of the violence, of the government escalating with military involvement, of this not making a difference if the systems are too powerful

• Anxious. My heart goes out to the protesters who are getting arrested. How can they just impose a curfew like that?

I’m writing this to go back and read every day. To remind myself that there are threats to justice everywhere, and I need to be part of the solution. I have benefitted from a white, middle class life and it’s about damn time I correct for the inequality that is just a matter of birth.