re: Baton Rouge: 6 officers shot: 3 dead, one fighting for life

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n individual came into Baton Rouge with a mission, it was not to protest. It was to harm law enforcement. By his own admission he was not affiliated with any group or any protest. His mission was one that does not represent the tone or mission of the protest around this country. The shooter whose name I will not mention, took the lives of men in our community who like Alton Sterling, did not deserve to die. Men who went to do a job and lost their lives doing it.

While my thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the officers, because the loss of life is tragic and shameful under these circumstances. I cannot be silent while voices in our community attempt to paint peaceful protestors as a part of the problem. Community leaders in Baton Rouge from day one of protesting have been working to ensure the safety of both protestors and police alike – and will continue to do so in the future.

I have witnessed and helped organize protest against the unjust killing of Alton Sterling. I will continue to help organize protest moving forward, because we cannot allow the narrative of mainstream media to twist the actions of an individual into the mission of a peaceful people.

It is not protest that caused this mad man to react the way that he did and take the lives of innocent officers. It is the lack of justice nationwide, when men and women of color are killed by law enforcement that has caused this. If we are serious about wanting to fix this, we must begin real conversations about why we are here. We must change laws, ordinances, and policies to require that police who dishonor the badge face the same consequences as anyone else who breaks the law. Then and only then, can our community truly heal from the wounds of a home grown terrorist.

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