Thoughts

[miss_ljv]

One thing that is both confusing and fascinating is what parts of this people in my own area (read: the Twin Cities) focus on, based on many different factors. A lot appears to be geography (in hotspots, suburbs, or distant), others, on principles or specific actions, personal context/experiences, and upbringing.

Most of my white friends are obsessed with the destruction. Many live in the suburbs or beyond. I'm not going to break it down because it's one of the most favorite debate topics right now and I'm tired. It's frustrating that white people particularly seem to think that debating and analyzing the reasoning behind destruction is the important part, or the part to endlessly be confused and questioning about.

Personally, all I care about is human rights. And what matters most is black people to stop being targets to our police. I support the right to protest, and for the media to witness it.

On another note, Bob Kroll (the police union president) is one of the biggest pieces of shit of all time. I mean, I've KNOWN this, it's not new. And if he keeps getting re-elected, guess who keeps re-electing him. Hmmmmm.

I've been learning a lot about defunding the police. I had never heard of this as a concept or possibility before last week. I was completely ignorant on the topic. Already having hated police and everything they stand for, it was easy to start delving into. However, if I had been approached about this a year ago (or 3 months ago or two weeks ago, whatever), I would have thought there was no chance.

Been having really good conversations with people I am close to. I did end up blocking Ann after I asked her nicely TWICE to step out of my space if she was going to just keep yelling (which she did after my initial posts). Mom said Ann wouldn't say anything to Paul about it and she's used to getting kicked out of people's houses (lmaooo).

The sacred circle at George Floyd's death site is amazing. I haven't gone directly there because it didn't feel like my place. As someone in the neighborhood said, "It's not coachella and you are not coming for a show. You do not understand the spirituality of black folks". Which is true. But even from here I can tell that's a powerful area. And those white people who feel comfortable going to PROTECT the black people in that space, I'm happy for.

Also, just got this email:



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Yesterday I got a notification for my Friendiversary with Joe, so that was cool.

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I have done almost nothing else other and breathe this situation. I have been almost zero productive at work - I think the only tangible things I've done over the last two weeks are:
1. Practicing New Student Orientation (NSO) with Suzanne and Jay
2. Putting together a third form for my Jadu training (but NOTHING else in that space)
3. Attending my Performance Review with Liz

I have played 1, maybe two games of Hearthstone, and knit maybe two rows on Sean's sweater. I have gone on two short walks with Steve, one to decompress after Saturday night, and the other on Sunday. But all we talk about is this. It's all I think about.

Comments

[tigersinacage.livejournal.com]

I had to push back on my mom a bit this week because she was kind of hung up on the looting in her area (the western suburbs of Chicago) and I'm glad I did. I think it helped her adjust her thinking a little because she does support the protesters (or we'd have much bigger problems) but she was fixated on the wrong thing.

Similarly, I did not know defunding the police was a viable option until this week. Ben and I had a really interesting conversation about it last night. It's pretty obvious something needs to change with policing.

[miss-ljv.livejournal.com]

Fixated, yes! We need to focus on other things. Good on you for having that conversation. These are the ways we can effect lasting change within our circles.

Completely agree. And the fact that the Mpls city council members have acknowledged that it is something they are reviewing is vastly different from anything in the past.

[eyelid.livejournal.com]

The police elect Bob Krull because they feel like he's on their side and no one else is. They're human too.

I feel like there's nothing especially wrong with the people who are police in our city - they're not cartoon villains, they're just like any group of people, some good, some bad, most in the middle. But like any group of people they need rules, good guidance on how they should be doing things, oversight, and consequences for bad actions or they will do lots of awful things. Which is what has been happening.

[miss-ljv.livejournal.com]

One thing I'd like to add - I do think it's important to police where you live - or some sort of urban experience before becoming a police officer in an urban area. You really need to understand the community you work in.

When I was a MH case manager in Ramsey county, I can't imagine being able to understand where my clients were coming from if I wasn't a citizen of the area. I've worked with so many teachers who have no clue the lives their students live - and the students KNOW it.

I don't think cops are cartoon villains, but I'm a generally non-confrontational, law-abiding citizen (I do speed but not excessively and the only ticket I've ever gotten was a bs trap), and I've only ever had negative interactions with police officers in MN. Rude/disrespectful for no reason, every time. And having seen directly how they treat people in mental health crisis, also terrifying and enraging.

And yes! I agree, there are REAL changes or steps taking place that have never been a serious part of the conversation before. I think we still have a lot more to do. If we're not going to completely get rid of the police, we really need to establish SO much more oversight, and personally I think there needs to be significant restriction on the use of force. It comes in to play in SO FEW situations. And yes - establishing consequences for misbehavior.

We also need to address the mistrust between the police force and the public. There needs to be some action taken by police departments to truly repair the harm caused and work to acknowledge and address the history of policing in the US and steps to change and do better. Just like with regular people (which they are), punishments are only a partial deterrent. Restorative justice will continue to push the repair forward and work toward forgiveness by the communities that have been most significantly impacted. It will take a long time, but it's so necessary.

[eyelid.livejournal.com]

I strongly agree with all of this. Well, except re: officers around here being rude - I haven't seen that myself. But again, I'm in a privileged position.

[leucocrystal]

I feel you on all this, and it's nice to be reminded that there are allies out there who aren't adding caveats constantly about property destruction. It's become very clear very quickly just how much more government and their police care for property over people, especially over Black lives, and I'm completely over it. As one commentator on Twitter put it last week, Black Americans have every right to burn down the country their built for free. I can't imagine the pain and rage they're forced to carry daily, and I have no interest nor right to question or get in the way of any of it, especially now.

I've personally been for abolition since I left criminology, which was over 10 years ago now, but I don't know that I ever believed it might be possible until this moment, which is amazing thing to consider. I hope this really is the start of a truly revolutionary moment, because the potential is finally there.