Look, I Dont Know If Im Going To Have A Career After This But Fuck That! - John Boyega

Look, I don’t know if I’m going to have a career after this but fuck that! - John Boyega

On Thursday, May 28th, 3 days after George Floyd was murdered by the police, I watched as 2 police officers on motorcycles pull over a car in front of my pharmacy. I didn’t think much until I saw the driver.

She was black. And she had a kid with her.

They stayed there for at least 45 minutes, maybe an hour. I’ve been pulled over before and each encounter wouldn’t last more than 15-20 minutes. I don’t know what was happening, but I was scared for the lady, for her kid, for whatever the police was going to do.

They eventually left without incidence, but I can’t imagine what that woman and her kid must have been feeling. A traffic stop should not be a question of life or death. I don’t know what I would’ve done if the police escalated the situation. I’d like to say I would’ve spoken up but would I have? My introvert personality would protest, my fear for my own well being might have stopped me. But as I watch our country burn and the president fan the flames with his tyrannical rhetoric, I recognize my privilege, even as a minority, and being introverted is no excuse to stand by as my black brothers and sisters get murdered simply for existing.

I am not usually one for prayers, but now, I pray for the safety of those protesting, risking their lives during this pandemic to try and get those with power and privilege to listen. I pray for the small businesses who are already struggling in this economy. And I pray that something will change. Because it’s insanity that it hasn’t and the same thing keeps happening over and over and over again.

I have also donated to NorthStar Health Collective and National Lawyers Guild - Mass Defense Fund to help provide medical supplies and legal support to the protestors. Please consider donating to them or any of the organizations working to help this cause if you can. Stream this YouTube video without skipping ads if you can’t. Sign the petition. And most importantly, please. Fucking. VOTE! Don’t waste your chance to truly enact change.

I am not black, but I see you.

I am not black, but I hear you.

I am not black, but I mourn with you.

I am not black, but I will fight with you.

✊✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿

#blacklivesmatter

How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change

by Barack Obama

“As millions of people across the country take to the streets and raise their voices in response to the killing of George Floyd and the ongoing problem of unequal justice, many people have reached out asking how we can sustain momentum to bring about real change.

Ultimately, it’s going to be up to a new generation of activists to shape strategies that best fit the times. But I believe there are some basic lessons to draw from past efforts that are worth remembering.

First, the waves of protests across the country represent a genuine and legitimate frustration over a decades-long failure to reform police practices and the broader criminal justice system in the United States. The overwhelming majority of participants have been peaceful, courageous, responsible, and inspiring. They deserve our respect and support, not condemnation …

if we want to bring about real change, then the choice isn’t between protest and politics. We have to do both. We have to mobilize to raise awareness, and we have to organize and cast our ballots to make sure that we elect candidates who will act on reform. 

… ”

Keep reading at medium

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(cartoon by Christopher Weyant)

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