What if it were you getting the phone call that your innocent child had been murdered? Murdered by someone who they are supposed to look to for protection when they can’t protect themselves. What if it were you who had to cope with the fact that someone who you love and care for was taken from this world in such an unjust way? No one can be at peace with that and no one should have to be. No one should have to fear being. Simply just being a human. 

Being a white female in America I have the privilege to shelter myself from the reality of social injustice but I am no longer choosing to be blind to it. I have always been aware of racism. I am mindful and I sympathize as best as I can although, mindfulness and sympathy doesn’t give this country a voice that is heard and right now voices are what we need.

Walking through downtown of San Francisco today left me anxious, speechless, angry and scared. A trip to the grocery store was no longer just that. In fact it wasn’t that because they couldn’t even open. Imagine that. How did we get here? One of the major lines we heard all throughout grade school is “history repeats itself”. How have we chosen not to learn and grow and be better from it by now? Why do some of you still believe that there are lives out there less valuable than others? Stop dehumanizing!

I have friends, roommates and co-workers who are black and although i might not be able to relate to them, I can do my best to understand them and protect them which is exactly what i intend to do.. This has gone too far to stand silent. This is not a time to be neutral. This is a time to come together as people, value each and every life that we encounter and stand up to those who do not. I do not condone fighting fire with fire. Setting fires to buildings and breaking the glass of windows is not going to get us what we want. But, speaking up peacefully as a group with a sense of urgency and mature aggression will unite us and allow us to put up the strongest fight that history has yet to give.

So i will ask you again, what if it were you? Wouldn’t you want the world standing with you? Wouldn’t you want to be safe? 

Below are ways that you can seek education and include your voice:

I found these four educators through Brene Brown who is one of my favorite speakers:

@berniceaking

@clintsmithiii

@rachel.cargle

@austinchanning

use reliable and trusted news sources:

npr -this is my main source

bbc

You can sign these petitions by sending a simple text:

Text floyd to 55156

Text justice to 668366