The Right to Peacefully Protest is the Foundation of Our Democracy
I never thought I would see a President of the United States unleash tear gas and rubber bullets on peaceful protesters who were simply exercising their precious — and protected — First Amendment rights. But that’s what happened last night.
To realize that the President did so in order to stage a photo op, using a place of worship as a political prop after unleashing violence, makes his behavior even more disgusting and feeds despair all across the country.
George Floyd should be alive today. In the video captured of his death you see how — minute after minute after minute — an officer kneeled on his neck, while other officers stood by and took no action. That act of violence is unconscionable.
Peaceful protestors must be allowed to speak out against his killing and the systemic racism in our society. Their voices should not be drowned out by outside agitators or by violence and looting, which must stop.
We all need to come together — including leaders at all levels of government and the majority of law enforcement officers who do their jobs with professionalism — to listen, understand, and take long-overdue action to address systemic racism, especially in our criminal justice system.
We have a long road ahead of us but we can, and must, emerge from this moment as a better and more just nation.
