In light of the Freddie Gray case a lot of people have been expressing their opinions. So often those opinions are filled with hate. What has happened in this country over the last year is painful to watch.
I keep hearing a lot of people say that these boys got what they deserved because they were criminals. Let me tell you something no one has the right to choose who lives and dies based on their actions except a court of law. NO ONE. Murder is still murder even if you're murdering a boy who sold drugs. I do not care if you're a police officer, a pastor, an army vet, or just a guy off the street you do not have the right to choose who lives and dies.
Now lets take a moment and consider these boys actions. Yes Freddie Gray had a rap sheet, yes he was involved in some terrible things and yes those were his choices. We all make choices and we should all be held accountable for those choices. Freddie Gray should have gone to jail and served time for his wrong doings he should not have been killed. He was killed out of hatred by officers who thought they were above the law. He was killed by officers who maybe were angry because he smarted off or wasn't cooperating or maybe they just didn't like him and for that they should be held accountable for their choices. The chose to let a man die in their custody.
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate only love can do that."
Now lets take a look at the other side. To those of you who say all cops deserve to die or fuck the police. I say to you the same thing - STOP! Yes there is a problem with our justice system and there is a problem with police officers thinking they have the right to do things that are against the law they've sworn to protect. But do you really believe that all police men are bad? or racist? I know cops who are cops because they wanted to have power over people and that is wrong. However I also know cops who became cops because they want to protect people.
If we want to make a difference we need to stop throwing bricks at police officers, burning buildings and cars and start fighting for change. We need to ask our government to make the rules and regulations for police officers more strict, we need to ask them to make the testing to become a police officer more strenuous. And we also need to appreciate the force when they do something good. I've spoken with a lot of cops who are good men/women and they say they just want to be appreciated for putting their lives on the line.
We have to stop letting the media run the show. They would have you believe that every cop is racist and every black man is a thug. When will we stop labeling ourselves and our society and start working as individuals? We need to work together to better our communities. You want to be angry about something? Be angry that our government doesn't spend enough on public education and makes college nearly impossible to afford for any student not in the upper class. Be angry that our children are living in poverty ridden neighborhoods where they feel their only way of survival is selling drugs on a corner.
The media is so worried about how Jennifer Aniston keeps up her shape and showing the most dramatic scenes just so they can sell papers. They don't care about showing the real stories or helping people make a difference so we have to start doing it on our own. We have to stop the hate! We have to join together to break down these labels. Our race is only a part of who we are and we need to stop letting people make it who we are! Black, white, male, female, gay, straight those labels don't decide who we will be and we need to stop letting them!
So let's stand together for everyone's rights. Let's stand together and show them that we will not be labeled. We will not let hatred destroy us. We will change the views of the world. We will stop letting the media control our opinions and how we are viewed. As women, as men, as police officers, as parents, as protesters, as PEOPLE!
-Much Love,
Maggie V.
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