#hands up dont shoot

It is hard to believe that we are having conversations like these in 2016. It is harder to believe that countless, innocent black men lay cold on the pavement at the hands of public servants 52 years after the Civil Rights act was passed, it’s hardest to believe that not every person is upset about it, some even defend it.

“Black Lives Matter” How does that offend you? What does it say about you if it does? Black Lives Matter doesn’t say that every other life doesn’t matter, it is a cry for help as they feel theirs do not, maybe never have. What does that take from you? What about a group of people crying for help to be equal makes you feel less so? I’m White, I do not understand black struggle.. why should that hurt me to admit? White privilege exists despite your reluctance to admit. This isn’t black supremacy it is black.. scratch that… human equality.

Most police are dedicated, brave, selfless, deserving public servants who I am thankful everyday are there to serve and to protect, but sometimes, just sometimes there are ones who do not serve and do not protect. I understand not all cops are bad just like I know all Muslims aren’t terrorists, all White Christians aren’t Westboro Baptist Church and every black man isn’t Micah Xavier Johnson. All cops are not bad cops, some people are just not fit for such a tough position. I am not fit to be a professional football player, Kylie Jenner is not destined to be a singer, Kim Davis is not meant to be a county clerk and Donald Trump is not fit to be President. In the same way that racist people, people who abuse the power and brutalize and/or people who act predominantly on fear are not fit to be Police Officers.

“More white people were killed by police than black people.” Rightfully so, considering 13% of US citizens are African American while Caucasians make up 63%. With that being said 37% of unarmed people killed by police were black in 2015 despite black people being only 13% of the U.S. population. Nearly 1 in 3 black people killed by police in 2015 were UNARMED. 1 in 3. What if your child was at risk of being that 1 in 3. Would you be stomping the streets? Would you hold up a sign and protest? Would you scream out as loud as your voice will let you “MY CHILD’S LIFE MATTERS!” I would, and no one could stop me. No one should try. People tell me how ridiculous and un-American these Black Lives Matter protests are, apparently they need to pick up a history book or better yet pick up the Constitution that contains the Second Amendment Right they defended so fervently one month ago and tell them to look up one paragraph.

It’s okay to have a gun if you’re a white patriot with a broken tail light but not when you’re a black one. Everyone deserves Second Amendment Rights even those on the no fly list, but not Philando Castile. Everyone deserves a right to be told hands up before cops shoot, but not Tamir Rice. This is America, the police are not our judicial system they do not count as a jury of 12 peers or a judge. Police do not have the right to try, convict, sentence and execute black people on the sidewalk. The media will tell you “Oh, he had a traffic violation in 1995 and has a Facebook picture with his middle finger in the air.” He also had a family, a life and basic human rights.

“All Lives Matter” you are right, they should, but all lives cannot matter until the black ones do too. If you think that all lives matter help fight for the black ones. Find your legislator http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ and get involved www.blacklivesmatter.com