Unprecedented Times

To say that we are living in unprecedented times is an understatement.

1. We have a president that has been systematically trampling all over the constitution since he took office. He is the most divisive, unhinged, discriminatory person to inhabit the office in our history. He glorifies hate, injustice and racism. He MUST NOT be re-elected.
2. We are in the middle of an epidemic. 110,000 Americans have died due to this virus. The presidents’ lack of response is largely responsible for killing those Americans. He is neither apologetic, nor accepting blame.
3. More black Americans are dying due to police violence all the time. This has to stop. Everyone needs to step up, speak up and make a stand. Black lives DO matter. Hello!!!!!
4. Violence again trans persons and other LGBTQ persons has increased since 2016. Black trans women are being killed and beaten at alarming rates. In 2019, more than 26 trans women were killed in the USA alone. That number is probably higher due to under reporting or misreporting. As of June 8th, 2020, there have been at least 12 deaths.

Black Lives Matter: This is a worldwide organization that is bringing to light the racial inequality with regards to police violence. They are not saying that black lives are more important than any other life. They are not saying that black lives are superior to any other life, they are just saying that their lives are in danger. A black man in America has a 1:1000 chance of being killed by police violence in their lifetime.

I am a white woman, so I cannot fully comprehend or relate to what that means. I’ve never experienced anything like that. I’ve never had a friend or family member killed by police. I’m privileged simply because I was born white. You can bet that if you ask any black American if they know someone that was killed, their answer will be “yes!” Can you relate to that?

A note to those of you that continue to say “All lives matter”: All lives do matter, but the Black Lives Matter movement is not saying that they don’t, they are just trying to bring attention to the danger they are in and get help to put out the fire. Have you heard the analogy of the house on fire? Check out the post below.

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I had no idea this video would take off like it did. I just want to thank anyone who has shared it and anyone who has received the message. This is the same analogy that helped me understand the #BLM movement when it first began. To those of you who still say “All Lives Matter”: of COURSE all lives should matter. But the fact is that white lives have ALWAYS mattered in the eyes of the government and police force. The same cannot be said for POC. No one is saying your life doesn’t matter. However, until the day comes that Black Americans aren’t being shot in their homes, in the street, and in their cars, you CANNOT tell me that all lives matter in the eyes of our society. All lives won’t matter until black lives do. #nojusticenopeace • • [*EDIT* Thank you to everyone in the comments that have let me know of the originator of the analogy! I had seen it used on a lot of different pages so I wasn’t sure who to credit. Inspired by @krisstraub @talibkweli 💛]

A post shared by Given Sharp (@givensharp) on Jun 1, 2020 at 5:11pm PDT

People, this fire has been burning for far too long. Let’s put this fire out together. Now is the time. Stand up, speak up, do not stay silent any longer. This is not a time to say “me, me, me”, it’s a time to say “what can I do to help?” We need to come together as the human race. We are all human beings, are we not? It’s our right to peacefully protest to inspire change, and we’ve let this go on much too long.

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” Desmond Tutu

Do your part. And you know what? Say their names:

I invite comments below, but remember this is a no hate zone.

Rae