Hanna Mangan Lawrence Instagram – I demand justice. I demand the immediate arrest and charging of the police officers involved in the death of George Floyd. This systemic racism is killing innocent humans. It is a problem and a tragedy when being a person of colour puts a target on your head.
I sat at home last night watching the riots happening around the country while our son slept. I saw a nation and its citizens expressing anger in the only way they believed they would be heard. It felt and feels like the fabric of America is tearing at the seams.
Days before, when peaceful protests quickly escalated to riots, I turned to my husband and said “I don’t want them to loot because it changes the conversation”. My husband is Mexican and I am white. Over the next few hours we had a heated discussion about my comment. I’ll summarize his argument – he surmised that it was too late to protest quietly, people are angry and upset. The oppressed and marginalized people of this country have not been heard through “quiet” protests or by taking a knee during the national anthem. Although, he doesn’t condone violence, this is the symptom of extreme pain and oppression. He told me about an instance when he was racially profiled by the LAPD. The cop was unnecessarily aggressive and I can safely say that the same cop would have dealt with me peacefully. I listened, argued, and came to a realisation. It is easy for me to have an opinion; my white privilege let’s me speak like that. I have never had to deal with prejudices because of the colour of my skin. We need to fight for equality. We need to fight for a better world. For now, people of colour need to stop dying at the hands of law enforcement. I’m not saying I condone the looting but I am saying I understand, I get the anger, the pain and that this unrest is a symptom of years of systemic violence.
I’m writing this to express my support for the protests. To demand justice for George Floyd and the many others who are dying at the hands of law enforcement. Let’s try to find a new path – maybe that involves the crumbling of the old and the building of the new. Together. #justiceforgeorge | Posted on 01/Jun/2020 03:02:04
