Our country is awash in senseless violence. We have retreated from our pluralistic ideals at warp speed, rendering us a vulnerable collection of “discrete and insular minorities” endangered by the tyranny of the majority at every turn (Footnote 4, United States v. Carolene Products, 304 U.S. 144 (1938)).
In the 72 hours since Philando Castile’s murderer was exonerated, another Black person was killed at the hands of the police. In Seattle, 30 year old Charleena Lyles was shot and killed in front of her children by the police that she had called to report a burglary. Although the police say that she was brandishing a knife, the truth is that the police repeatedly demonstrate their ability to de-escalate situations when a white man brandishing an automatic weapon is involved. We remember all too well how terrorist Dylan Roof, who murdered nine black people in a church was captured alive and treated to a meal from Burger King after his arrest. Yet, when Black people call for help, we’re the ones who end up dead. Continue reading “Fighting back: our only option”