We Stand with Our Black and Brown Brothers and Sisters
The LOVE>hate Project stands with our Black and Brown brothers and sisters in their pursuit for justice and equality for all.
As you know, I know how murder feels. We lost my daughter Jessie to the unprovoked, sick, and heartless violence of a friend. George Floyd’s family knows how murder feels too. They lost George to the unprovoked, sick, and heartless violence of a police officer.
What I don’t know is how it feels to not have justice. What if Jessie’s murderer, like so many white officers well documented throughout the history of our great country, walked? What if Dan was well-placed in a system—you know, the police union, the Medical Examiner, the local D.A.’s office—a system that protected him? What if he was free to kill again? I don’t know how that would feel, but the families of countless black Americans do.
The Green Bay Packers: “We condemn the systemic racism that has existed forever in this country. We stand with those raising their voices, protesting the injustices and demanding change.”
George W. Bush: “Laura and I are anguished by the brutal suffocation of George Floyd and disturbed by the injustice and fear that suffocate our country. It is a time for us to listen. It is a time for America to examine our tragic failures, and as we do we will see some of our redeeming strengths. It remains a shocking failure that many African Americans are harassed and threatened in their own country. It is a strength when protestors, protected by responsible law enforcement, march for a better future.”
The Pledge of Allegiance: “… with liberty and justice for all.”
The Founding Fathers: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.” (Let’s add women; it’s the 21st century.)
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'”
Barack Obama: “The waves of protests across the country represent a genuine and legitimate frustration over a decades-long failure to reform police practices and the broader criminal justice system in the United States. This moment can be a real turning point in our nation’s long journey to live up to our highest ideals.”
The Milwaukee Bucks: “We are distraught and angered by the senseless death of George Floyd, but we know this is not an isolated case. Racial biases, abuses of power and injustices continue to plague communities throughout the country, including Milwaukee. There needs to be more accountability. As an organization, we remain deeply committed to address issues of social injustice and to make meaningful change for African-Americans and all marginalized members of our community.”
I had written completely different letter about Love having no “sides” and loving “everyone and everything” unconditionally, even our flaws. While I still believe in unconditional love and unity for all, I’ve read and listened and learned and thought and prayed and soul-searched and anguished and changed a lot over the past few weeks. I learned that I didn’t think I’m a racist but I am, because I benefit (often blindly) from a structure of racism that gives me things others don’t have and I haven’t done enough to change that. I learned that it’s not the time for a message about Love having “no sides,” but a time for deep listening. It’s a time for my country to deliver on it’s promise of justice for all. It is time to demand change.
We Stand with “Good Cops”
L>h stands with our law enforcement brothers and sisters who risk their lives to protect us and hate the abuse of power and the systems failures that protect “bad cops.”
When my daughter Jessie was murdered, 38 Hartford Police Department (HPD) officers worked 18 hours per day for 16 days straight until they solved her case. The Chief called me every single day for 16 days. He promised us we would be the first to know everything they could make public. He kept his word. He withstood tremendous pressure from the media, the community, and local officials to protect the integrity of the investigation. He told me, I answer to all of them, but I answer to Jessie and your family first. The lead detective sat me down and told me what happened, and that I could not see Jess. She was a ward of the state now, and it was his job to bring her justice. How would you like that job? I am forever indebted to HPD and I love them.
I didn’t enjoy writing tickets. But you didn’t know.
I cried when I found your daughter lying in a ditch, high on meth. But you didn’t know.
I was devastated when I found the 32-year-old veteran dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. But you didn’t know.
I missed my kid’s birthdays, school plays and family trips. But you didn’t know.
I had nightmares. But you didn’t know.
I struggled with every death notification I made to a family about their loved one. But you didn’t know.
I was never comfortable at social gatherings because of the things I’ve seen. I can’t trust anyone. But you didn’t know.
I’ve seen things you could never even imagine. But you didn’t know.
My job was hard on my family. But you didn’t know.
This badge ran towards certain death as the Towers collapsed on 9-11.
This badge ran into the line of fire to save the people in the Pulse Night Club.
This badge sheltered thousands as bullets rained down from the Mandalay Hotel in Las Vegas.
This badge protected a BLM rally that left five officers dead in Dallas.
This badge ran into the Sandy Hook School to stop a school shooter.
This badge killed the Oregon District mass shooter in seconds.
This badge has done CPR on your drowned child.
This badge has fist fought the wife beater who left his spouse in a coma.
This badge has run into burning buildings to save the occupants.
This badge has been shot for simply existing.
This badge has waded through flood waters to rescue the elderly trapped on the roof.
This badge has intentionally crashed into the wrong way driver to protect innocent motorists.
This badge has helped find the lost child so his mother would stop crying hysterically.
This badge has helped the injured dog off the road and rushed it to the vet.
This badge has escorted the elderly woman across the street because she couldn’t see well and was afraid to cross.
This badge has bought food for hungry kids because they had been abandoned.
This badge has been soaked in blood and tears.
Despite your hate and your anger, I will await the next call for help. I will come running without hesitation. Just like the thousands of men and women across this great nation.
The next time you see an officer, or any first responder, remember that they are people first and there is no training in the world that prepares them for the things they see and do on a daily basis.
Do we need criminal justice systems change and justice for people of color? Absolutely. Do we support our black and brown brothers and sisters? Absolutely, especially now. Do we also support our officers? Absolutely. We’re all in this together, and we’re going to have to get through this together. Bring the change. Now! And love each other.
We Stand with Peaceful Protesters
Thank God for our great nation and our Founding Father’s incredible vision. We are grateful that we live in a country where we can assemble and march for justice. And we deeply appreciate all of our Peaceful Protestors who care enough to do so. Many of them have been tear gassed and remained peaceful. Some were hit by rubber bullets and remained peaceful. Some suffered severe injuries and remained peaceful. Some were targets of unnecessary and excessive force by law enforcement and remained peaceful. Some paid the ultimate price for their brave voices and were killed without cause. Because they cared enough to show up and stand up for justice and against racism.
And let’s also remember the non-abusive officers who have marched with them and even died protecting them and their constitutional right to assemble peacefully. Just as our “good cops” have been lumped together by some of us with the “bad cops” who commit atrocities and the failed systems that have protected them, so too our Peaceful Protester heroes have been lumped together by some with protesters who chose instead to destroy and burn and hurt more innocent people. Quit lumping people together America! LISTEN to each other. And love each other.
L>h is grateful for and supportive of peaceful protest, just as we are grateful for and supportive of our black and brown brothers and sisters, and our good cops. Bring the systemic change. Bring justice. Don’t protect abusive officers, put them away.
Love Stands with Everyone
Love is anti-racist. Love stands against abuse of power. Love opposes violence and destruction. Love demands systemic change. Love conquers hate and ignorance.
We are all in this together, and we must all get out of this together. To do this we must listen to each other DEEPLY.
It’s not white against black, rich against poor, police against citizens. It’s everyone against racism, the systems that promote and protect it, and the powerful who exploit it for their own good.
Sincerely,
Buck Blodgett, Executive Director
