I Think I Spoke Too Soon..

A couple of weeks ago, I published a post entitled When the Unthinkable Becomes the Norm. In it, I discussed gun control. Now we have a town in Missouri that has turned into a war zone. The First Amendment reads:

AMENDMENT I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.  http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/first_amendment

Police shot and killed an eighteen year old boy by the name of Michael Brown. He was visiting family in the area just prior to beginning college. He was a wonderful boy, loved and cherished by his family, and his community. He was doing nothing wrong and as of yesterday, reports were still saying that the police hadn’t yet interviewed the closest witness to this tragedy. I listened as the State Senator from that town asked off camera if she and her constituents would be gassed again that day. From Huffington Post: State Senator To Ferguson Police: ‘Will I Get Tear-Gassed Again?’ The police chief said he hoped not. Hoped not? Huffington Post reporter, Ryan Reilly and Washington Post reporter, Wesley Lowery were both arrested last night in Ferguson because they didn’t get out of McDonalds fast enough, both assaulted as well by police. St. Louis Alderman, Antonio French was arrested and released this morning. Police can’t seem to explain his arrest. From The Raw Story comes this headline: ‘Holy sh*t!’ Watch as Ferguson cops fire tear gas and bean bags at news crews. Apparently this involved Al Jazeera and KSDK journalists. Tear gas has been reported in front yards. Protesters were also asked to protest only during daylight hours. Residents as of last evening still don’t know the name of the officer that shot this child. SWAT teams are everywhere and it looks like the military has taken over Ferguson. So, of course rioting has begun. That’s what happens when you treat people like shit and throw their First Amendment rights out the window.

And now Daily Kos is reporting that Governor Jay Nixon has decided to send the State Police and the Feds will be taking over and the St. Louis County Police will be stepping down. Finally.  http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/08/14/1321549/-Missouri-Governor-announces-St-Louis-County-Police-to-be-relieved-of-their-duties-in-Ferguson#

When the dust settles and we figure out what is going on, we need to have the discussion we’re all afraid to have. Racism is thriving in this country and we should all be ashamed of that. We know better than this. We know what racism has cost us. We’re the United States of America. United. This country is special. We’re the example of what can actually be accomplished when everyone comes together in unity. Oneness is our natural state and to watch what’s happening to our family in Ferguson, not to mention all over the world, is heartbreaking.

The rhetoric these days only reinforces this nonsense. Could anyone ever have imagined the Congress we have? Could anyone ever have imagined that they would shut the government down simply because we have a President that is a person of color? Because that’s why this is happening. And it’s beneath us. How about fostering unity instead of division? How about moving forward instead of wallowing in the cesspool created by racism? Of course the police in Ferguson want to stop journalists from reporting on their actions. Why would they want anyone to know what they’re doing? But that’s their problem, as they’re now finding out. Because I have a feeling that relieving them of their duties is only the beginning. And you can just bet that journalists, particularly the ones that have their first amendment rights abused, will be ever so vigilant to provide every detail there is.