Out Of The Darkness Comes Hope

We’ve had a bad week …or longer … since the murder of George Floyd on May 26^th. We’ve seen protests, some violent, may peaceful; we’ve seen fires and looting and more police beatings; but we’ve also seen hope.

And so that’s where I am today … hope.

In Queens, New York, police officers took a knee alongside protestors, showing their solidarity with the movement, proving that not all cops are bad, but that the good cops do something, stand for something.

In Brooklyn, New York, protesters attempted to keep the evening from turning violent by standing outside a Target store prevent others from looting and vandalizing the store.

In Miami, Florida, a highway patrol trooper broke a line of officers to approach a protester on a motorbike … and then he hugged her as she said:

"I don't want them to get hurt. Don't hurt them no more. I love you."

In Shreveport, Louisiana, an officer embraced a tearful protester, telling her:

"I feel your pain. We're here with y'all and we're all here together."

In Flint, Michigan, Sheriff Chris Swanson took off his helmet and baton and asked protesters how he could help:

"We want to be with y'all for real. I want to make this a parade, not a protest."

The crowd responded by chanting:

"Walk with us."

And he did.

The New Haven, Connecticut, the Police Department held a press conference to declare that the entire force is taking a stand against police brutality and called on law enforcement officials from around the country to do the same.

In Louisville, Kentucky, a chain of white women formed a barrier between black protesters and the police.

In the same city, a strikingly similar viral image featured a group of black protesters forming a chain of protection around a police officer who was separated from his unit.

In Utah, at the state capitol, U.S. Marine Corps veteran Todd Winn stood at attention alone to silently protest and honor individuals everywhere wrongly harmed by racism and police brutality.

University of Missouri football players and other athletes lead a march to the Boone County Courthouse in Columbia where they took a knee for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in honor of George Floyd. And then they all went and registered to vote.

A crowd of protesters in New Jersey cheered as a group of police officers knelt with demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter rally.

In Houston, five-year-old Simone Bartee was crying when she saw police officers, and asked:

“Are you gonna shoot us?”

A police officer got down on one knee wrapped his arm around her and said:

“We’re here to protect you, okay? We’re not here to hurt you at all. You can protest, you can party, you can do whatever you want."

Also, in Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, who said to _____ about ending the army to quell the protests:

"Let me just say this to the President of the United States on behalf of the police chiefs in this country, please, if you don't have something constructive to say, keep your mouth shut." 

And that same day he walked arm-in-arm with a woman during a ‘Justice for George Floyd’ event.

In Coral Gables, Florida, police officers knelt with protesters in a show of solidarity.

In Portland, Oregon, protesters gathered outside the Multnomah County Justice Center to peacefully demonstrate. A row of Portland police officers knelt with them. The protest continued on peacefully in the hours before Mayor Ted Wheeler’s city curfew went into effect for the second night.

In Santa Cruz, California, Police Chief Andy Mills and Santa Cruz Mayor Justin Cummings knelt with hundreds protesting in that city.

All that was followed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, after years of saying he’d do nothing, finally saying the league should have listened to players earlier about racism concerns:

"We the National Football League, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of black people. We, the National Football League, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest."

Goodell is a little late in coming around, but he did come around. As did New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who said earlier this week he would "never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag" has since apologized for his "insensitive" comments after receiving criticism from his own teammates and other athletes.

It’s not about a flag or an anthem, it’s a protest against the problem of police brutality toward the African American community.

Let’s end with ‘I Can’t Breathe,’ recorded 4 years ago, much needed today, sung by Ledisi:

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