Black Lives Matter

—guest post by Vee Lewis, staff representative for Local 328—

As you all know, this weekend we saw nationwide unrest following the killing of George Floyd. George Floyd was killed by a police officer, as you may have seen in the widely circulated video. Mr. Floyd’s death was the most recent in a long history of racial injustice and violence inflicted upon black people in America. Racism is an ugly part of America and an uncomfortable subject to broach. However, our union will not remain silent, in the name of comfort or respectability, about the issues and systems that oppress and, worse, kill black people.

The killing of George Floyd was wrong. The killing of Ahmaud Arbery was wrong. The killing of Breonna Taylor was wrong. The message of law enforcement and our government has been “if you see something, say something.” However, members of law enforcement have not spoken up when it comes to police violence against black people. Our government leaders have not acted swiftly enough to ensure justice for the victims of this violence.

We call out those who have been hypocritical or silent and complicit about the police violence that is being inflicted upon black people. Are police officers who witness, encourage or do not actively prevent violence against black people “good cops”? No. Any American citizen who is present when another person is in the commission of a violent crime should be considered an accessory or an accomplice and held accountable by our justice system.

We call on our justice system to hold accountable those police officers who failed to use their “good” to prevent yet another senseless, unlawful, inhumane death of a black person. We call on you as members of our union family to search your souls and stand up for equality, liberty and justice for all. We call on members of our law enforcement community to police humanely and with compassion.

We call on all citizens of this nation to not remain silent when we witness acts of racist discrimination and racial injustice. We call on our federal, state and municipal governments to create programs that not only teach cultural diversity and effective community policing, but also seek out and remove those persons, doctrines or systems that facilitate and fan the flames of racism.

And finally, we ask that you hear the grieving, mournful voice of our black fellow citizens when they say “BLACK LIVES MATTER,” because they do. Let us all do some introspection on how we can better confront our own biases and create a safe space for black people to exist in America, in our communities, in our workplaces and in our union. Our message is clear: Black people — we see you, we hear you, we stand with you. You matter.