This week, more than any of 2020, shined a very clear spotlight on how we live in two different countries within one land. Two systems of justice and law enforcement. Two standards of behavior and patriotism. Two sets of values. It has never been demonstrated so clearly, in black and white, as it was this week.
I spent my summer and into fall attending events and marching for Black Lives Matter. As a white ally, I felt it important to take a stand, to stand behind my black and brown friends, family, and fellow citizens. I marched in Milwaukee, in Wauwatosa, in Kenosha, and even in Washington D.C. I saw law enforcement with varying degrees of force but none stands out to me as much as my experience in Kenosha. I was there the day after protests turned destructive following the police shooting of Jacob Blake. We stood outside the court house, black, white, young, and old. We had our BLM flags and signs and led chants like "Black Lives Matter," "Say his name - Jacob Blake," and "No justice, no peace." And as we stood there, in front of the courthouse with boarded windows, concreate barricades, and a full line of riot police, there were snipers on the roof. At one point, I looked up and the gun was pointed at me. As I drew attention to the sniper from those around me, he ducked out of view. I was no threat - we were no threat. We stood there in peace. Not once in that or any of the events I've attended, have protestors tried to infiltrate government buildings, threaten law enforcement, or promote insurrection. No one was killed by BLM protestors. The only people killed in Kenosha were peaceful protestors at the hands of a white extremist, who is disgustingly heralded as some as a hero. And while I am white and recognize my privilege and the safety from police violence that my skin affords me, I will never forget being in that sniper's crosshairs for no other reason than I was standing up for black lives. No weapon. No threat.
I think of Wauwatosa protests the night after no charges were filed in the police killing of Alvin Cole. I watched on live stream as peaceful protesters were met by riot police and tear gassed and on another night when a peaceful white protestor on a bicycle was violently thrown to the ground by police. No weapon. No threat.
White America has been telling people of color how to think, how to act, how to advocate for their own rights since this country was founded. No other example of this is more clear than the peaceful protest by quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who in his protest was labeled unpatriotic and disrespectful in protesting police killings of black and brown people. No weapon. No threat.
Flash forward to this week. White protestors in the guise of "patriotism," stormed our country's capital not to protest violence but to incite it, to overthrow the results of a democratic election, to throw over our government. They threatened lives of the speaker, other lawmakers, and even the Vice President. They were not met with riot police or snipers and were even waved into the capital by law enforcement members. This attack was not a surprise. It was all over social media for weeks and weeks. Yet, there were no riot police, no snipers, no show of force whatsoever. Sadly, one person was shot within the capital but most were allowed to roam freely and officers holstered their weapons, defile the chamber, offices, and the hallways of the "people's house." On police officer was killed from the very crowd that claims to care more about law enforcement personnel than black lives. Weapons. Threats. No show of force.
We live in a country of double standards, one for black/brown people and one for white. Disgusted (but not surprised) by the attack, I was even further appalled by white voices on social media comparing Wednesday's attack to BLM protests, especially those in Kenosha where there sadly was a lot of property damage. One such person compared this attempt to overthrow our country to the looting of a Target. BLM protestors are peaceful and do not promote violence. During some protests have knuckleheads looted or caused damage? Yes. That has never been condoned by the protestors or their leaders, it's never been an organized event. What happened on Wednesday was not just a couple of knuckleheads, it was an organized insurrection spurred on by the false narrative that the election was stolen from the very highest office in the land. These insurrectionists voiced the views of "our house, our country" as they stormed our country's capital. Their country. A country of white people, white standards, white supremacy. A country where black/brown people have to listen to law enforcement or face being shot to death but where whites can riot, not follow laws or law enforcement directions and no not face being shot (or even tear gassed). A country where peaceful protestors are tear gassed if they stand for black lives and yet violent attacks on our institutions are allowed by whites without counter measures. The discrepancy in this country has never been more clear. Until we are ready to face these two countries and ensure liberty and equal justice for ALL Americans, this sad tale will continue and our country will continue to fall short of her promise.
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