Category: View from the Battlefield

Wyoming, with a population of 549,914, has two senators, each with one vote in the “upper house,” while California, with a population of 39,780,000, also gets two senators, each with one vote in the U.S. Senate.

The demands have not been significantly different over the last 50 years. Stop the occupation. Stop the profiling. Stop the killing.

Wishing, hoping and ignoring facts are not the solutions to taming the beast. It starts with using common sense, being determined to survive and taking care of our communities.

The burden of trumpism has fallen squarely on people of color and white people are required to step up and truly lead. I’m suggesting two white-led efforts that must yield some tangible results.

He wakes up everyday unfazed by the tragic situation fueled by his inaction.

Despite our persistent efforts to contribute to U.S. society and fit in as full-fledged, respected citizens, Black people are continuously met with contempt and cruelty. That we’ll never be considered equals is a hard pill to swallow given all the hoops and hurdles that we’ve gone through.

The National Registry of Exonerations reports that there have been 2,644 exonerations since 1989 when it started tracking the injustices. There are thousands more languishing in U.S. prisons while trying to prove their innocence. That’s a total of 23,500 years lost by victims and their families due to a racist, unjust system. The time and missed life experiences can never be recovered.

The common denominator in the meaning of defunding the police is that there will be no more increases in police budgets, and that funds diverted from the sacred, bloated budgets will be invested in meeting human needs. The divested dollars would be pumped into community mental health services, housing programs, youth recreation, training and employment, childcare, parks, and education.

If we don’t put these racists in check, not only will they be successful at using the situation to advance their agenda, they will put a chill on people coming out to show their solidarity and get engaged in policy and legislative changes long after the tear gas fades from the atmosphere.

This virus has coughed up a set of new challenges for those packed and stacked inside an inhumane system mired in brutality and racism.