We are all familiar with the story of the Good Samaritan. We have probably heard this story from our youth up and have many different angles of the story. We know that this is a parable that Jesus introduces in response to the lawyer’s question, “who is my neighbor?” The story of the Good Samaritan allows us to imagine ourselves as a person who will help someone who is down and out. However, let us imagine ourselves as the one lying in the ditch, beaten, battered, and left for dead. Imagine as we lay there that people pass by and refuse to assist us. Imagine being the person in the ditch, and what it would be like for someone to reach out a hand and help us out of that ditch. Imagine what that gesture of kindness and compassionate treatment from someone different from ourselves would be like in the time of our distress.
Now use that same imagination and imagine what it would be like to be sitting in your car for a simple traffic stop and end up shot to death, Daunte Wright. Imagine what it would be like to be pulled over for failure to display your license plate, which is displayed and being pepper-sprayed, Lt Caron Nazario. Imagine how it feels to be a parent and told your child is not coming home. The reason is that your child has died. Your child died at the hands of some of those charged with the duty to serve and protect.
As Martin Luther King, Jr. stated, “Certain conditions continue to exist in our society, which must be condemned as vigorously as we condemn riots. But in the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has failed to hear?” America today has failed to hear that the black and brown citizens are tired of being pulled over for driving while black or brown. America today has been unable to hear the cries of the parents, siblings, relatives, and friends from the pain and trauma at the death of a black or brown citizen. The pain and trauma inflicted by some of those charged with the duty to serve and protect who are allegedly fearful, even when it is clear that no threat of danger is present. America has failed to acknowledge and come to understand the peaceful demonstrations. No, I am not advocating for riots, but I am advocating for better policing of police who have previous excessive force allegations against them. I am advocating that if a police officer is fearful of a citizen just because of the color of their skin, then law enforcement is not the blue they should wear. This is not an indictment against all those in law enforcement who faithfully execute their oath and duty to serve and protect.
Imagine if we were all neighborly and helped one another regardless of the color of our skin, by speaking up and speaking out, then perhaps we can eradicate the pain of those beaten and lying in a ditch. Imagine if we were all neighborly, maybe then we can all breathe because no one has to worry about who is not coming home tonight. Picture if we were all neighborly, displaying acts of kindness and compassion to everyone, even those different from us, how much better the world would be. Just Imagine!
Dear Neighbor,
I do my best to be a good neighbor, but unfortunately, because of the events of today, it is difficult. I call upon the name of Jesus to help me to not succumb to the flesh, but to follow the Spirit. It is difficult. When I see others, I see them for them and not the color of their skin. I treat them how they treat me or how I wish they would.
As one who took an oath and made a promise, not just to the people, but to God, that I would treat all people with fairness and respect, I do see the truth of this world. It is hard being of color and trying to uphold my oath when I see what I see. I am thankful that I work with good neighbors.
For those of you who have taken the position to look at us individually and pass your judgement based on our individual behaviors and acts, I thank you. I thank you for the nod as you walk by; the fist bump; the finger point; the handshake; or just the look. Thank you.
For those of you who ask, “where are the good officers to police the bad ones?” I say to you, we are here. You don’t hear about us because our actions aren’t what the news wants to report, and a great deal of people want to hear about. Where are we? Officer Cariol Horne, Buffalo, NY police officer, who back in 2006 stopped her white partner from choking a black man to death was rewarded for her actions by being fired. She was assaulted by her partner. The investigation by her department determined that her use of force against a fellow officer was unjustified. She was just a few months away from receiving her pension, but after 15 years of fighting, a judge overturned that ruling. She received her pension. Her partner was never held accountable for choking the handcuffed suspect but was held accountable for excessive force against black teens.
Officer Jaquay Williams, Greensboro Police Department, who was fired because he spoke out about the death of George Floyd. The department denies that was the reason, but how ironic when he speaks out about the actions of the officers, he gets called in to Internal Affairs. Not when he was posting funny videos, but when he spoke out about what I agree to be truth.
There is one story after another about officers, good officers, who have stepped up, spoke out, stood against, called out, turned in, or whatever you want to call it, another officer for not keeping his or her oath. We need those of you who truly believe that we do exist to stand with us.
To the good officers that have stood up and kept your oath, I commend you. I look up to you. I stand with you. Stay strong. Pray. Deepen your relationship with God. This road that we travel is full of obstacles, potholes, orange barrels, snow, ice, and anything to make us turn around or travel a different way. I say to you to hold on to His unchanging hand.
To the bad ones, I say shame on you for disrespecting your fellow man/woman and the badge that you wear. Shame on anyone who supports your actions, behaviors, and beliefs. You are just as bad as the one committing any wrongdoing. Your lack of care of human life other than yours or those who think like you, is a disgrace.
Good neighbors I send out the call for all of us, good citizens, and good officers, to stand.
Let us not forget that no matter the training, mistakes happen because we are still human. Not every white officer and black subject is a white and black situation. Law Enforcement is still a predominantly white career which means any encounter with an officer will most likely be with a white officer.
We have to look at each case individually and at the evidence. No matter the reason, a mistake made or hatred in the heart, we still have to be held accountable. For those good officers who have made a mistake, your accountability will come in many different ways. For the bad officers, there may not be enough from man, but your day will come when you will stand before God.
Good neighbors is it possible that we can come together in order to work together to help the healing begin? Is it possible for us to stand together to stand against the bad neighbors? For those who have fallen by the wayside, can we be the example to those neighbors who are still figuring it out on how to reach out a helping hand? Can we, good neighbors, show others that it isn’t the color of the skin, but character of the person? Can we, good neighbors, respond in love to conquer hate?
All lives do matter, but we want black lives to matter equally to white lives.
We want to know that when an officer approaches, that we don’t have to be concerned that that officer is afraid because of the color of skin. That that officer doesn’t have hatred in his or her heart and we wonder if we will get to go home.
Good neighbors!!!!
Officer Hall