No Excuses

It happened again. Another week, another horrific news report of a senseless black death in America. Racism has been on violent display this month across the country amongst our men and women in blue. 

It is heartening to see calls from white Americans to white America demanding they take a stand—a stand against racism, neutrality, acceptance of the murder of black Americans in our country.  But to effect systemic change, we need to hear from another group. We need our men and women in blue to break ranks from their “thin blue line.” We need them to hold their own accountable. We need them to step up, not away. We need them to step in, not stand by. We need them to take ownership and start saying, “Not on my watch.” 

Three policemen stood by while another policeman knelt on a man’s neck for nearly nine minutes causing a fatal injury. They did not say a word against the action. The man told them he could not breathe. They did not step in to stop the action. The man cried for help. They ignored the man. The man passed out. They did not intervene. 

As time passes, we will hear of the good things each of these men have done for their community. But despite any good they may have done prior to taking George Floyd’s life, on that day, they chose racist assumption, excessive force, and callous inhumanity. On that day, their choices took a man’s life. That life deserves justice. Those choices merit punishment. 

But the undebatable truth is our system favors a violent policeman over black victims, and excuses over accountability. Those men should have gone straight to jail. Instead they were fired and sent home. As of this morning only one faces charges. Yet, over the last week we have seen quick arrests of the protestors who allowed emotions, frustration, and despair to overflow into violent protest. 

Why are  the men and women in blue not held to the same standard? The system continues to protect them. They continue to protect each other. The nature of their job becomes an easy deflection point for blame. We expect violence to protect us. We are surprised when that violence takes a wrong turn, because despite the nature of the job, we expect our policemen to exercise control. A daunting task? Yes. Being exposed to violence, death, and crime on an ongoing basis changes a person. Over time, these changes can feed a coldblooded view of the world. But not every policeman turns frustration into fists or a callous disregard for humanity. Racism is the magnifying glass that ignites those flames. 

I have family members and friends who wear the badge today. I know that my life is safer for their presence, but the same is not true for my black brothers and sisters. Until that simple statement gets fixed, the badge remains tarnished and the force remains complicit.

Policemen must take the lead on fixing this problem. They must take a stand against profiling and racism within their precincts. They must intervene when they witness the use of excessive force. They must stop making excuses and hold their own accountable.  They must stamp out racism within their community. They must lead the change our country cries out for