Your First Post Regarding Black Lives Matter Protests

There have been a few things that have been bothering me lately relating to the protests against police killings. If you utilize social media you can't avoid seeing a lot of opinions (or at least memes and shares disguised as opinions) about what's going on. Not everyone has chosen to comment one way or the other about what is arguably the biggest issue of the day. That I understand. Some choose to use Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms exclusively for fun stuff - pictures of their kids and pets and info about their favorite sports team (well not lately when it comes to sports teams!). I won't assume that you don't have an opinion, or that you're not active in some fashion if you don't use the platform in that way. Maybe you don't know the best way to articulate your opinion clearly, or maybe you just have sharp boundaries for what you discuss with others. But here's what does bother me, and where I do assume some things.

If you haven't used your social media access to speak out against police killings of unarmed black men who were not involved in any violent offense, or against the over-the-top response of some police departments to peaceful protests, but have decided to make your first comment in support of police, or mocking "liberal" responses to the violence, or even condemning the looting, then I will assume that unjustified police killings are not something that bothers you.

Let me be clear that I don't agree with some of my friends that all cops are bastards, that all cops are bad apples, or that we shouldn't have police departments. My late father was a NYPD officer for 21 years and my brother was a NYPD sergeant and homicide detective who retired after 27 years on the job. While I never observed either of them on duty, in their civilian roles as fathers and husbands, they were and are both good men. I'm sure that anyone who has a friend or family member who is a police officer would say the same thing.

The problem isn't that police officers aren't good parents or spouses, or contributing members of their communities and churches, it's that the system  encourages and excuses bad behavior in many cases. It's not even open to discussion that every day in America police cross the line and physically abuse and often kill people who are pulled over at traffic stops, who are running away, who are handcuffed and restrained face-down, often for minor offenses when neither the officer nor the public are in any danger.

Posting photos of cops changing tires, dancing at barbecues, taking knees, getting involved in community events and otherwise smiling and being good guys doesn't negate the reality that when push comes to shove, many law enforcement officers feel justified in employing maximum force for minor offenses. It's pretty easy to smile and be Officer Friendly when you're interacting with a friendly member of the public, but the problem arises when there is the least bit of resentment for being pulled over for "fitting the description" when that description is simply "black male". How do most cops react when someone "gives them attitude"? Do they just deal with it as every retail worker has to do every day of the year, or do they escalate the situation and retaliate?

Posting videos of your favorite conservative black person agreeing with you doesn't negate the issue either. Just as white people are not monolithic and have a wide and varied range of opinions, so do black people. A black conservative making the case against Black Lives Matter or any other issue doesn't "destroy" the BLM position, it's just another opinion.

I'm going to be charitable and not assume that by ignoring police killing in your social media life while at the same time decrying opposition to police tactics and posting red herrings and straw men about "liberal" opinions you're a racist (although you might be). What I am going to assume is that you haven't taken the time to set aside your preconceived notions long enough to seriously consider that there is a problem with policing in this country that needs to be corrected.

So, do that.