We are now in the wake of Louisiana's governor, John Bel Edwards, signing the Blue Lives Matter bill, a bill that now adds occupation to the list of things that are covered by hate crime laws, due to recent "assaults against police and other public servants. America is now in yet another conversation that I am personally tired of having: does Black Lives Matter mean Blue Lives don't? The answer is a simple and quick "no."
Black Lives Matter has never been nor will it ever be anti-police.
We know the names, the men and women who have been slain in the name of "justifiable self-defense." We know them so well that when we hear Mike, we can't help but picture a young Michael Brown in his cap and gown, the picture that circulated media following his death. We know that all Trayvon wanted was his skittles and his drink. We know the name of Tamir Rice, who I can only cry for because my nephew is just a year younger than Tamir was when he was killed. We know the name of Sandra Bland, who I mourn for because she reminded me of women in my inner circle, women who are inspirational, smart, and uplifting. We know the names. What's sad is that we shouldn't.
Law enforcement was not designed to steal, kill, or to destroy. It was designed to protect and serve. While there are plenty of good policemen, I would beg to argue that our issue isn't with whether or not an officer abides by the law, it's how can an officer abide by the law in a country whose judicial, political, and social aspects were built on the foundation of racism. It's as plain as day. More officers patrol low-income communities at a disproportionate rate in conjunction with upper and middle-class neighborhoods. This only sets people who are often less educated, poor, and Brown up for failure. Studies show that the police presence in poor communities is the reason why more Brown people are in jail than our White counterparts. It makes perfect sense. That is why Black Lives Matter is essential for our communities.
Black Lives Matter is an organization founded by Black women to combat police violence, economic injustice, and political injustice against marginalized groups of people. Read that again. Read it a third time. Did I mention that BLM has an anti-police agenda? I did not. And it's because it doesn't. What we see in the news, the "riots," does not speak to the movement. What CNN, Fox, and NBC won't show you are peaceful and productive protests that highlight the Black community's demands when it comes to law enforcement, poverty, and education. They won't show you the many people organizing around the country who are seeking justice for families whose children have been killed. They won't show you the backpack drives for students in poor cities. No, the only thing they show you is Black people burning buildings and running in the streets, hitting police officers with rocks. And I'm here to say that Black Lives Matter is more than "riots," it is a movement dedicated to the forceful and uncompromising path toward complete and total equality.
Again I say: Black Lives Matter is not anti-police. If anything, Black Lives Matter is pro-police. BLM wants to see this system uprooted and replaced with a system that does what law enforcement is designed to do. Black Lives Matter wants to see our communities safer and protect our children from violence and gangs. Black Lives Matter wants to see our youth have a fighting chance when they see blue lights. Black Lives Matter simply wants to protect its own.
So the next time you see a Black kid's picture scrolling through media, because, unfortunately, it will happen again, don't immediately call Black Lives Matter "thugs." Don't say that the organization hates police or hates White people. Don't say that the message is that Black lives matter and no one else's life does. Instead, remember this post. Remember the kids Black Lives Matter wants to save, the communities we want to rehabilitate. Think of human beings because that's what it is.
Black Lives Matter. Period.
