I am proud of #blacklivesmatter and I personally agree that the answer to civil unrest is NOT to increase funds to law enforcement. Keep the budget the same as it was and give whatever proposed increase funding for policing to mental health, housing and job creation in those communities most affected by police brutality. This will make the job of public safety easier. That’s a bold idea I never thought would fly, but now it is being considered and I’m glad about that. I’m not, however, in the camp, to get rid of the police. I know why they were created, to hunt down slaves, but when I have been robbed I’m calling a cop. I want police trained to treat me like a customer though, not like a runaway slave. There’s a little something from different camps (like UseOfForceProject.org — link in bio —— or PoliceForum.org) that when put together with #BLM gives us solutions that can be enacted rather quickly. Like getting rid of the chokehold, outlawing lynching 🤦🏾♀️ and reducing the amount of force for non-violent offenses. These are no brainers and only the beginning of a vision for public safety. I feel like there is more than one way to solve any problem. I’m probably biased because I have family who have dreamed of being police officers. They have made a difference in positive ways. I don’t want someone throwing a bottle at my cousin’s head just because they have on a uniform. Nor do I want Black people being killed or feared because their darkness, my darkness, is seen as a crime. There’s got to be some middle ground. People perish because of a lack of vision. We have to visual what we want to see happen now that an opportunity has opened up for real change. What is the vision you want to have happen, not what you don’t want? What do we want to see? . . . . . . . . #michaelbernardbeckwith #agapeinternationalspiritualcenter #utlanow #neatoday #deraymckesson #1619project #mayorgarcetti https://www.instagram.com/p/CBOOvS8h1LT59_J8PGfKmiOhZteXcQgNMM7cDs0/?igshid=nvxxbuhzekuo
