There is so much to say following this week and, at the same time, we are speechless. As the American people struggle to make sense of the past week, the whole world watched, as a country that used to be valued as the leader of the free world, seemed to go up in flames. “It may be a MAGA night,” Trump announced via tweet on Saturday which was an appeal to his base. Threatening tweets talking about guns and vicious dogs the previous day served only as an extension of Trump’s own impotence. Incapable of facing the American people as they called out racism, he remained in his safe bunker under the White House.
On Monday, peaceful protesters, including clergy, with justifiable anger, gathered across from the White House. They were cleared with chemical agents and pushed back by horses, police, and the military. All that so little man Trump could have an apprentice photo-op moment in front of the historic St. John’s Church. Trump, who does not attend church and probably has never read the Bible, again showed himself to be interminably incapable of bringing people together. Instead, he was once again in need of a show of strength and a use of force to prove his manhood and feed his insatiable narcissism. Moments prior in the Rose Garden, as protesters held signs saying “No Justice, No Peace,” he touted the second amendment while totally ignoring the first – that of free speech. Here before our eyes, we could see the marks of a dictator taking our country to ruins.
Many in this country continue to step up, stand up, and march for police and justice reform. They understand that compassion is not a weakness and that violence is not a long-term solution. Peaceful and appropriately angry, protesters of all colors have filled our city streets across the nation. Last weekend during a tense moment, Governors and Mayors pleaded for peace and begged people to go home as outside angry opportunists moved in. Unfortunately, in many cities as the evening came, it was as if the lights were turned off and the cities became a different place. As fringe groups arrived, they began their destructive looting and burning of local establishments. The messages sown by the peaceful protesters were quickly overshadowed by the destruction caused by outside factions. Fires were set as looters grabbed what they wanted while violence spilled into the streets. Those of us at home watched the violence on TV, feeling helpless to the cause. One night in St. Paul and Minneapolis, cars were stopped coming into town with no license plates, windows blackened, and occupants flanked with long guns. These were not the thoughtful protesters who were compelled to take a stand following the brutal murder of George Floyd. These were not the peace advocates who live in these cities. But somehow, they managed to temporarily blur the focus of the protesters’ message and redirect the attention to the unrelenting acts of violence. Stunned by all of this, we asked:
-Are there any words to describe what we have recently witnessed in our cities? Or to the taking of the life of George Floyd?
-Are there ample words to decry the violence and destruction to our businesses and neighborhoods?
-Are there enough words to describe the lack of a decent response from this White House?
-Are there sufficient words to describe a President that calls Governors weak and jerks?
-Are there words to describe the Republican-led Senate that lays idle like 17-year cicadas waiting for the world to fall apart before they speak up against this or any type of injustice?
Struggling to find answers, true leadership, and guidance, Americans are left wondering what comes next. How do we move on from this moment in time? What will fill this great divide? Is it needed reform or more hate and greed? This all seems to leave us with more questions than answers. Clearly, this past week, we feared that we were on the eve of destruction. And for a moment, we believed we were!
Yes, people are angry because they have been muted. Anger is the voice of those people who feel that they and others have been ignored. Their very human behavior reflects what they feel on the inside and many are rightfully outraged and resentful. The eruption of passionate and courageous Americans using their right to protest in defense of democracy can be the first step towards reform and healing of our homeland. People are hurting and the protests and the violence are symptoms. We praise the protesters who filled the streets fighting to bring us back from the brink of destruction which has created a historic tipping point. Chants and songs from peaceful protesters now grow louder as Americans of all colors and nationalities step up to challenge a cruel Administration that uses its white privilege and the law against its own people.
Memorial services for George Floyd have filled the streets of this country bringing hope to all for healing and harmony. This moment in time can and will set us on a course for change and we must not be silent. It is time for us to come together and move from anger and organize in a peaceful but meaningful fashion. It is time to choose compassionate and strong leaders who we can stand with us while steering us toward the rebuilding of this nation and its people. In the long term, anger may buy us time but it does not always buy us respect. We must begin to move forward towards mediation and legislative reform. If we do not move from the anger, it could smother us and leave us all breathless.
Let us all kneel with these peaceful protesters and support their efforts to move us out of this haze so we can return to the work of rebuilding a strong and positive nation built on civility and genuine democracy. We are the United States of America. We are not weak and we are not thugs. We are also not followers of a President who uses religion and the Bible as a prop and who is a momentary Christian when it benefits him while he practices hate and violence.
We support the peaceful protesters and kneel with them. For this is more than a moment in time – it is a movement.
Be Kind, Be Strong, and Be There for Each Other
