Bully Check!
"An individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law” ― Martin Luther King Jr.
These have been trivial times, to say the least, and it would seem right on time to begin civil unrest, with it being an election year and all, the recent acts of Police Violence have not gone unnoticed. One would think that with the advancement in video and live stream technology that these would-be bad cops would be more mindful while engaging with the public; yet here we are, dealing with more videos of Officers Abusing their powers. The most recent one, however, the George Floyd Incident is the straw that started the fire. I don’t think I have to tell you too much about this incident. I’m pretty sure, by this time, you would have seen the videos or gotten the details, but to knee on the neck of a man who was already handcuffed and not resisting until that man died is cold-blooded murder. Now, I am not going to speak about previous cases such as the Mike Brown Case. A great deal of times, these acts of Police vs Citizen occurrences fall into grey areas where one has to acknowledge variables that lead to unfortunate situations; this is not one of those times. The fact is, whether George Floyd was Black, White, Mexican, or Chinese, The megalomaniac acts that were used by this officer was wrong on many levels, few of which, in my opinion, has to do with race. I know that nowadays "the hand" likes to slap a "racist" tag on ANY negative incident involving whites and any other race. I call bullshit on most of that shit. It is a purposely orchestrated tactic to divide the people and give more power to the elite when in reality, we , the entire people, are just dealing with asshole, power hungry officers, and the system that protects them. One does not have to pull the race card to suggest or accept that there is a lot of wrong in the justice system. Police brutality and abuses of power is not a new thing and is in no way reserved to blacks, browns, or any other skin tone. This problem is a result of Megalomania, Narcissism and Superiority Complexes!
Now, let me make it clear right now, this post isn't to suggest that police officers, in general, are bad people, (I have many run-ins with cool and friendly officers while I'm working). This essay is also not suggesting that officers are purposely targeting black people. Though it would seem that much of the footage that ends up on mainstream Media, (accidental? Come one, man!) there are many more incidents of Police vs Non-black citizens that does not. What this post will suggest is that there are many officers who abuse their positions of power,(I also see it all the time while I work in the Chicago burrows) and when these power-hungry officers multiply and are protected by an establishment who share this Superiority mindset, then it is the citizen's responsibility to remind the system that it is We the Fucking People, that give them their power!
Sometimes there needs to be a fucking reminder that the citizens are not sheep to be slaughtered. Lots of these officers act as if we are just cattle meant to be herded and prodded, into conformity. That is not within the powers that they were entrusted to! They are meant to protect, and diffuse tense situations with the safety of the people their top responsibility, and though, oftentimes they have to act in a matter in which they take their own safety into considerations, many encounters are clear abuses of power and I will always stand with the people and their rage when these situations happen!
"You’re not supposed to be so blind with patriotism that you can’t face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who says it.” ― Malcolm X
Indeed, sometimes there needs to be civility; sometimes there needs to be outrage, and sometimes there needs to be rebellion. What I find ironic is that it's the citizens, the governed, that always seems to be the ones being asked to act civilly, while those entrusted to protect us, to legislate in our place, are the ones that routinely abuse their positions. Some people will argue that the officers involved in the George Floyd case have already been fired and may face criminal charges and that should be enough. I disagree. Do you think they are the first cops that would receive some kind of sentence for abuses of power? Yet here we are, again and again. Would there have even been this much commotion to fire, arrest and charge these officers had the video not gone viral, or would it have been covered up? How long did it take for Arbery's shooters to be charged and arrested?
Some people will also say this isn't a time to be the provocateurs, which really fascinates me because it is these people who I always here talking about the overreach of government powers and the responsibility of the people to keep these forces honest. For me, I say if not now, then when? The outrage is justified IMO, and a public spectacle may just be what it is needed to put other would-be antagonists on notice. Remember all those officers are from the community in which they serve, the same community as the other 3 officers who watched as their coworker, take this man’s life, and did nothing.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” ― Edmund Burke
And now? Now people act like it’s still no time for Civil Disobedience?! For months we watched as Colin Kaepernick kneeled in silent protest, supposedly against Police Brutality and people, myself included, came down on him for his methods. For months, we saw protests being held around the country to battle police abuses of power, yet here we are, again. This time in an occurrence that can in no way be justified! If not now, then when must there be a fucking statement that the Citizens are people! That we have the power! That we will not be dealt with like the worst of criminals or given death sentences for minor infractions!
"What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them."
Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 1787. ME 6:373, Papers 12:356
I do support the mass protests. I do support the Civil Disobedience! If it is the community in which these officers come from, then it is in the community that these spectacles must take place in! Sometimes you have to punch someone in the mouth a couple of extra times to deter any other would-be bully from fucking with you. This is reality! in this case, civil disobedience is the fist, the community is the jaw and those would-be, power-hungry bad cops are the future bullies being deterred. The People have had enough! The Protests must happen in every city around the United States and the people of the community must unite in solidarity with them, whether White, Black, Brown and so on, because the fact is, that even though it is the Cop vs Balck occurrences that get the media attention, these abuses of power happens to everyone, despite race or gender! These protests are to put every officer around the country on notice! These protests are to protect you, your spouses, your friends, your children from possible future encounters with Officers on power trips!
Remember, as I wrote earlier, it is not the officers we are against. I was at a Rally in my city yesterday and as I stood there listening to the grievances and the anger being directed at the Officers in riot gear, I saw many people I knew on both sides. Many of the Protesters and Police officers were either friends I have known for decades, people I have graduated with, men that I have coached as kids, and parents to the kids I currently coach. They are good people, people with morals, and families who want to protect their families. I am in no way against police officers. I respect them when they respect me, but there is no real way to know which one will one day step out of line and it is these spectacles that would fall onto the eyes and the ears of those who may.
"Disobedience is the true foundation of liberty. The obedient must be slaves.” ― Henry David Thoreau
I do wish these acts of civil disobedience would go to the places of governance though and even though I understand the rioting, I do not support the vandalizing of locally owned businesses and the assault of random people of their communities. In my opinion, these are the counterproductive acts that the opponents of these protests like to spotlight to illegitimize the cause. The MSM will deflect the attention to the looters and those opportunists that are more in it for free stuff and to break shit. They will completely dismiss the rightful rage of the people and label them as children throwing tantrums, but it is in our blood as Americans to revolt against injustices! So the organizers of these demonstrations have got to try to get the people on their side. In reality, whether they know it or not, The people Are on their side. They also feel the great injustices that fell upon George Floyd. I have been hearing testimonies from many people, many police officers, and Police Chiefs from all over the country condemning the abuse of power that has escalated this tension. I also wish the organizers would get better speakers, who could better relate the very important messages that need to be heard. Hell, I’m available guys! I can be your voice if need be. I will always stand with the people when tyranny falls upon them! It is not only my right as a citizen of these United States of America, it is my fucking responsibility!
“If the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government, let it go, let it go: perchance it will wear smooth--certainly the machine will wear out… but if it is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then I say, break the law. Let your life be a counter-friction to stop the machine. What I have to do is to see, at any rate, that I do not lend myself to the wrong which I condemn.” ― Henry David Thoreau
Don't be afraid.
That ringing you hear in your ears
is just a bit of