Tonight as I watched day two of the DNC, I sat with eager interest yet cautious concerns about how the mothers of Trayvon Martin, Sandra Bland, Jordan Davis, Micheal Brown, Eric Garner to name a few would be showcased. As I said in my previous blog I had concerns and reservations due to my feeling of the Democratic party playing the fence sitter and out right apologist role on the side of Law Enforcement in the wake of several notorious acts of police brutality and unnecessary use of deadly force. Look I get it, pissing off the police is a bad move on the side of politics, but ignoring the fact that many people especially black people feel scared in our own country was strong. It is a feeling that is even now prevalent even with in my own home. The feeling that even the people we elected to lead us did not think this issue warranted more then a "its a tragic" blurb and move on. We needed to be heard, the message that our children are being murdered for the color of their skin. That more often than should be, black families are training our children on how to survive an encounter with Law enforcement. Something no parent should have to do. We should be teaching our children that the police are who they can go to when there is trouble. Not how to look like they mean no harm when approached by a cop. It was time to finally see the Democrats stance on this, and the DNC a national platform would be a good place address this. So tonight I watched and waited with trepidation on how things would be handled.
The music played and several women took the stage, each dressed in black or black and white. Their faces held looks of both awe and pain. When I looked upon these women who have suffered from a loss that I would not wish on any parents as they stood side by side on the DNC stage. When the crowds applauded and chanted "Black lives Matter." I was braced myself for what would happen next and was pleasantly happy that they were treated with respect and dignity. I was also proud of how poised and composed these women who have suffered great loss and speak on behalf of their sons and daughter and show their support for Mrs Clinton. For Sandra Bland's Mother to say "Mrs Clinton understands that the loss of black lives is a personal and national loss" The tears in her eyes, her wavering yet strong voice along with Mrs Martin who publicly acknowledge that she did not wish to be apart of this group, for obvious reasons.
No parent would want to be apart of a movement that highlights the fact that their child died due to a situation that was spurred on by racial overtones. Some may try to twist what she said, but as a black mother I got it. She would have rather had her child who would have graduated high school instead of being buried back on this Earth with her. The way their composure and heartfelt words spoke volumes to us who have for a long time now felt that no one takes this issue seriously. The Mothers of Movement reflect how I as a mother of a young black child feel, their pain is my pain because I know that my son could be a target. My son is a young black male, though mixed in origins most in this country will view him as black. He also is Autistic. Every day I raise him with the hopes he gets to grow up and make something of himself and change this world. But I also get the slap of reality that at any moment of his life as he approaches his teens that he could be an unfortunate statistic of young black males who are perceived as threats and murdered either by Law Enforcement, or by men like George Zimmerman, and Micheal Dunn. I feel this was a moment of a genuine look at the faces that the Media tends to ignore in place of labeling these kids as thugs or punks or pulling out arrest criminal records. And for once I felt that a serious issue was finally being addressed by people who say they wish to be our commander in chief.
I also believe that in comparison to the RNC who turned the message of Black Lives Matter into something hateful and criminal, that finally we get to shed a light on something people try to avoid, people try to say the issue of brutality of Law Enforcement is a matter being blown out of proportion. I have had people on social media argue that despite facts to prove that this is a serious issue, that the media (you know the same people who tend to portray the victims as thugs and savages) are only doing this to make people hate police. It is a sad fact that many choose to act as if this is not a big deal because it has not happened to them and more than likely wont due to their not being perceived as threats. I have had too many people who think this is just rocking the boat or stirring a pot or any other asinine argument to deflect from the issue. Too many times lately I have seen people try to say that the very name of the movement is made to incite when it is, trying to reflect the fact that to many of us our lives do feel devalued by the way people are being murdered.
To people who try to argue instead "all lives matter" or even tonight as the CNN commentators debated the lack of "blue lives matter..." representation during tonight's convention. Which is a lie they had both the Philadephia police chief and the States Attorney General speak about remembering the lives of the fallen police officers and keeping them safe. Yes they did not get to parade the family of fallen officers on the stage, but neither did the RNC. Because honestly the two issues are not ones that can be easily intermix or should be exploited as such. And I found it quiet offensive that some of the commentators thought that each side could just be interwoven without taking from the fact that the Mothers of Movement represent a group of women who felt voiceless in the wake of personal tragedy. Unlike blue lives matters proponents who have the backing and support of most of this country of even our own President. And to be real, most of these women have faced the harsh fact that their sons, and daughters will be more likely remembered for criminal acts by hate filled beings then officers who will be revered (rightfully so) for their hard work before their deaths. It is not an easy path to tread with either subject, but I feel the DNC finally let it be known that this issue is not something they will continue to be ignored and I applaud that.
No one is saying other lives do not matter, we are not saying that police officers men or women who put their lives on the line and do their job thoroughly with respect of all lives deserve ire. And I definitely along with many other Citizens condemn the killing of police officers just because they are police. But we cannot keep protecting those who are using the badge to kill others, whether they are black, brown, white poor, mentally ill or even animals who are of no danger but are still shot and killed because some who are supposed to protect and serve think its better to put something perceived as a threat down. We must address proper police screening especially psychological, training and better ways to handled even people considered offenders when dealing with persons of different background or social status. We also need more transparency in the use of body cams and fight against laws such as the one passed in North Carolina which is trying to prevent the public from being able to view dash and body camera footage. Hiding actions of police who have to use deadly force is a step in the wrong direction and any politician who refuses to see this needs to be sent packing.
The use of body cams, dash cams are essential in addressing this very real problem within law enforcement today. There is a distinct feeling of mistrust for law enforcement within the black community how have been the victims of Judge Jury and Executioner style tactics. And in comparison to violent mass shooters who get to face trial it is very necessary that the police keep the public aware of why they had to use such measures. Because I am sorry when you think about men like James Holmes the Aurora Theater shooter, Or Dylan Roof the Charleston church shooter both who are still alive. Two white males who are violent perpetrators, who were caught doing a terrible acts yet still alive to face trials, vs several young Black men and women who died due to the hands of police it is hard to continue to stand by and tip toe around this issue. It needs to be address, it must be taken seriously now. The Democrats cannot back away from this, they cannot use this issue at the DNC and the not follow up. The path to addressing this issue has finally been laid out, and I along with many others who vote in November will be anxiously waiting to see if anything that happened tonight will help towards making a difference and stopping the violence on both ends.
Ive always said the root to fixing a problem is acknowledging there is one, too many people have dismissed the tragic events that have taken the lives of black people who at least should have had a chance at a trial if they were guilty of something. From unarmed men who were sitting in cars to Eric Garner who called to stop a fight and was "arrested for selling loose cigarettes" yet had no weapon on him so the need to put him into a deadly choke hold completely unnecessary. Not to mention the innocent victims once again such as Aiyanna Jones and Tamir Rice who were far too young to die especially by the hands of people who are supposed to first and foremost protect them. I am going to vote my conscious this election, though the candidate I was pushing for did not win, I know that the alternative would be far worse than to side with the Democratic party. I hope that by what I have seen these last two days of inclusion of diverse people speaking about real issues, from testimonials of 9/11 victims to once again the Mothers Of Movement that this choice will not be in vain.
More thoughts to come.
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