Member-only story
So, I have this Facebook “friend”…someone I’ve known for almost 40 years.
In 2012, Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old high school student, was accosted and killed on a walk back from the deli for wearing a hoodie.
My “friend” issued not a word of protest.
In 2015, Sandra Bland was stopped by the police on a pretext and thrown into a prison cell that she never left alive.
My “friend” said nothing.
On February 23rd, Ahmaud Arbery was hunted down and killed by a couple of gun-toting rednecks as he went for a jog.
My “friend’s” sense of outrage was nowhere in evidence.
On Monday, George Floyd was brutally asphyxiated by a racist cop. The cop mocked Floyd as he fought for his last breath.
Not a peep from my “friend” about zero tolerance for police misconduct.
But today, Friday, my “friend” posted a picture of the burning Minneapolis police station, pontificating about how this was pulling focus away from the real problem. As if focus (and I don’t know how many peaceful protests) ever brought justice for Eric Garner, who was strangled by Officer Pantaleo for the capital crime of selling loosies. Pantaleo was never even indicted.
My “friend” declared zero tolerance for both the cops and the community’s outraged response.