For the first time in American history the country had protests in all fifty states and for the same reason: Rising up and saying no more police brutality. The protests and uprising are now heading into the third week, with rallies in small towns, large cities, in all-white states, and in and conservative and liberal states.
The brutal murder of Mr. George Floyd, the public lynching of Ahmaud Abery, and the devastating home-invasion murder of Breonna Taylor by police, have galvanized a nation that for years – decades – remained indifferent to the pain, suffering, and brutality delivered by their police forces against Black women and men.
We are used to protests in some cities such as Oakland and San Francisco and of course those cities have not missed this historic moment. But we have also seen protests in other large cities from coast to coast, including Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Atlanta, and of course New York.
The protests spread to large cities from Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico (who are still without stimulus funds, full electricity, and hurricane funds), Houston, Portland, and Denver.
And small states held protest marches as well, including Maine, New Hampshire, Montana, and Idaho, states with almost no Black residents.
We have seen protests in Boise, Sioux City, Norfolk, Nebraska, Farmington, New Mexico, Richmond, Va., Maine and New Hampshire.
We’ve seen and witnessed Native tribes – our sisters and brothers who can most identify with our struggle – out in force showing solidarity and gifting us and America with traditional dress and powerful performances.
We’ve heard from Rabbis and Priests, Imams and Bishops, churches, mosques, synagogues, and sacred places and sacred leaders.
Because Black Americans provide the world with unique cultural insight, entertainment, sporting idols, writers, artists, poets, dancers, and singers and musicians, the world has learned of our American struggle and as such we have simultaneously gained allies and supporters from around the globe.
We have witnessed protest marches for Black Lives Matter in France, Hong Kong, London, India, Russia, Chile, Iran, Egypt, Bolivia, Syria, Sudan, Italy, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Montenegro, Georgia, Haiti, Spain/Catalonia, Malta, and Thailand.
The world sees and knows of our struggle against white supremacy and agree that Black Lives Matter.
Our century’s old fight against racism and systemic racism has been inspiring revolutions around the globe for decades, from our War for Freedom (some call it the “Civil War”), Civil Right’s movement, the Black Panthers, and even Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition caught the worl’d attention.
And of course Barak and Michelle Obama remain among the most popular and beloved people in the world.
Our struggle is the struggle of oppressed people everywhere.
And our uprising inspires minorities to see their plight as changeable because we have changed this country – slowly, inexorably, and despite its desire to remain racist and enforce racism.
So, raise a glass to acknowledge our friends and allies across the globe that see us, hear us, identify with us, and who want to change America for the better.
For some additional Black Lives Matter images from around the world, click here.
© 2020 by Myron J. Clifton. All Rights Reserved.
Dear Dean 