Our country looks more like a war torn battlefield in the wake of the horrific and unjust murder of George Floyd. Like so many Americans I stand in solidarity with my country against this horrendous and senseless crime. I firmly believe we are all God’s children, and we are brothers and sisters. I understand the anger and frustration that many in the minority community feel. Enough is enough with police brutality and people abusing their power or position. However, I don’t understand how destroying the country and burning down communities is helping push us all toward a more fair and balanced justice system for us all

Many of the communities that have been devastated by the rallies and protest have been minority communities. Hard working people, who have in some cases invested all that they had into a business that has been burned or looted by rioters. All in the name of social justice? A local firefighter by the name of Korboi “KB” Balla, owner of Scores sports bar, watched his dream business destroyed and vandalized by looters and rioters. “I was outside saying, please I don’t have insurance! said, Hussein Aloshani, an immigrant from Iraq trying to protect his deli from looters and rioters in Minneapolis, (taken from New York Times article written by Caitlin Dickerson) With chants of ” No Justice No Peace,” you are left to wonder where is the justice for the innocent people who are caught in the cross fire of destruction. Did anyone take time to think about them? Burning down stores where people in the community buy their groceries, that’s justice? Looting, and destroying a property owned by a hard working American who had nothing to do with George Floyd’s death? That’s justice ? No that’s a crime and the people who perpetrated these crimes should be arrested and held accountable for the damage they have caused

We cannot excuse inexcusable behavior, anywhere in our society, period. Calls for defunding the police are ignorant and would have catastrophic consequences for our country. I do believe it is possible to stand with one another to protest injustice and to have our voices heard, and also retain respect for those who protect and serve. We can do both. Not all cops are bad, and not all people are racist. In Chicago alone, over 130 police officers have been injured. Retired police captain, David Dorn, 77 was shot and killed while trying to protect Lees Pawn and Jewelry, in St Louis. Multiple police officers were injured during a riot in Jacksonville Florida. There are unfortunately, there are similar stories throughout our country. A country divided cannot stand. Regardless of the social climate of the country, the men and women who protect and serve, still need to put their uniform on and go to work. Our police officers work side by side with each other and the community. They are diverse in color, ethnicity, sexual orientation and socioeconomics. They just want to go to work, like everyone else and come home safely. We can respect authority and also speak out against it when it is being abused.

As human beings we are all part of the human race. Everyone’s blood runs red. It will benefit none of us to live in a country with lawlessness and anarchy. People running about in the name of “justice” destroying property, damaging businesses, burning down communities. They are not peaceful protesters they are criminals. Hurting people, and crippling already hurting communities helps no one. It is our constitutional right to protest. Peacefully . Not desecrating monuments, churches, blocking highways, or injuring anyone. There is no place for that kind of angry, ignorant, and lawless behavior. Defund the police? Seriously, none of us will be safe, and who will come when you call 911? Think about it. It is ok and justified to be outraged about people in positions of power abusing their power. We all should speak out against horrific and unjust treatment of human beings. But, we should all be equally horrified at the out of control behavior of riots that have wreak havoc, on innocent hard working Americans trying to take care of their families and live the American dream. They are entitled to justice too.