Police Brutality Is The Problem - Not Peaceful Protests

The topic being discussed on cable news right now is the silly decision by the National Football League to not allow it's employees (the players) to peacefully demonstrate against police brutality (especially against Black Americans). The NFL is one of the most popular organizations in this country, and 70% of the players in it are Black Americans. They could (and should) have been a leader for equal justice in this country, but they chose instead to attack those who peacefully demonstrate for justice.

But the NFL is not the problem. It is a symptom of the real problem. The real problem is that too many White Americans like to mouth their love of the Constitution, while their actions demonstrate a racism and disregard for that Constitution. They would rather vilify peaceful demonstrators than deal with the real problem being demonstrated against.

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees all Americans the right to peacefully protest (and what could be more peaceful than simply taking a knee during the anthem). That right does not just apply to things you support, but also to things you might not support or like.

The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees that all Americans will be treated equally under the law. It doesn't just apply to Whites, but to all citizens regardless of race, ethnicity, or color. When government officials (and yes, the police are government officials) treat minorities differently than they treat Whites, they are violating the Constitution and making a mockery of the rule of law.

I am especially talking to my fellow White citizens. Do you love and respect our Constitution? If you do, then why are you denigrating peaceful protestors and supporting police violations of that Constitution? Doing that is unconstitutional, un-American, and downright stupid.

Blacks (and other minorities) are not asking for special treatment. They are asking for equal treatment. They simply want police to treat them the same way they treat Whites. And that's what we should expect our police (and other government agencies) to do -- treat everyone the same. That's not that hard to do, and anyone who cannot do that should not be in law enforcement (or any other government job).

Too many times in this country, unarmed Blacks have been killed, when a White person would not have been. And too many times a White person would just be ticketed or let off with a warning, while a Black person would be arrested for the same offense. There is no defense for that.

I spent nearly 30 years working in various aspects of law enforcement (corrections officer, patrol officer, parole officer). I know law enforcement is not an easy job. Dealing with the public never is easy. But that is no excuse for unequal treatment. And the unequal treatment by some officers makes things worse for everyone -- both other officers and the public.

It is time for decent White Americans to join with their Black and Brown brothers and sisters, and demand that the problem with our police be solved. Our failure to act against injustice means we support that injustice. Is that how you want to be remembered?

All Americans should be taking a knee -- and doing much more!