Over the past year, the supposed ‘race war’ has been causing destruction, death and violence. It all started with an accusation and since then the problem has only continued to grow. There have been riots, rants and t-shirts made around the movement commonly referred to as “Black Lives Matter.” There have been rallies over the lives of those lost, i.e. cases like Michael Brown and Walter Scott. These cases have sparked hate and outrage nationwide and have caused some serious changes in the police force.
On May 1, 2015, the Obama administration funded a project to include cameras as part of the police uniform in order to try and make what actually happens in cases like Michael Brown and Walter Scott a little clearer. Although this was supposed to be a solution and is still a very important change, the tension has only continued to grow. The #BlackLivesMatter movement has only continued to grow and spread the hate towards police officers. Originally looked at as the villains of the situation, cops have suddenly become the targets. Deputy Darren H. Goforth was filling his patrol car with gas when he was shot and killed by a man who then fled the scene. This is just one of many shootings that have caused the loss of lives and heartbreak to families everywhere.
On Wednesday, August 26, 2015, two journalists were shot and killed while they were live on the air. The shooter was a former employee of the news station that the two worked at, and claimed that they were racists, which was his motive for killing them. The shooter also claimed that the Charleston Church shooting sent him over the edge, which is why he decided to kill the two former coworkers. After fleeing the scene, the shooter killed himself. What exactly did this do for justice for the lives of those lost in Charleston? Nothing. They are still gone, but their lives have been honored in the streets of Charleston, which does not change what happened, but helps bring people peace and feelings of respect for those lost. Adding to violence does not prevent violence, and that’s what people who are out shooting innocent cops and reporters, just because they are a different race, don’t understand.
Yes, black lives matter, but no one had ever forgotten that. In the case of Michael Brown, evidence found that Brown actually was a threat to the police officer, and did not in fact have his hands up telling the officer not to shoot. In the case of Walter Scott, the police officer who shot and killed Scott is going to jail for shooting the man while he ran away from him. These cases bring justice with them, and people are learning the proper ways to change these circumstances. So while black lives do matter, so do the lives of everyone else. Violence is not the answer now and truly never was, so let’s look at all lives like they matter.
