When Dylann Roof (who violently murdered nine in Charleston, South Carolina) and James Holmes (who violently murdered 12 in Aurora, Colorado) were killed by police, I felt devastated and heartbroken. Wait. What I meant to say was, when nonviolent Breonna Taylor and George Floyd were killed by police violence, I felt excruciating sadness and paralyzing heartache (especially since Dylann Roof and James Holmes were met with the kind of “police nonviolence” that matches my idea of “protect and serve”).
In the summer of 2020 (amidst a horrible spread of one virus), the murders of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd by law enforcement seemed to uncover a centuries-old fatal virus (the virus of police violence towards non-Caucasian Americans). From a heartfelt perspective, this new awareness amongst millions of Americans of European ancestry appears to have added an additional layer of empathy to the fabric of our American democracy.
And I believe it is in that space between awareness and empathy that we have an amazing opportunity for magic and possibility. As a friend of mine puts it, “Believe in believing the impossible is possible.” So the question is: What is possible right now in the wake of so many unbelievable tragedies? What is possible right now that will move America to a place of post-traumatic growth recovery? Wow! Was that as charged for you as it was for me? One possibility is the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act (which reduces police torture, exposes toxic outuition*, enables personal responsibility, empowers non-privileged communities, and addresses the unhealed intergenerational wounds caused by centuries of minimization, dehumanization and demonization).
*For those who are new to the term outuition (the projection of prejudgment that comes from scarcity and fear), it is the violent version of our natural intuition (that guiding energy source coming from love and abundance). And the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act will finally expose toxic outuition.
Empathic communication shows us that there is a HUGE difference between protective use of force and punitive (or retributive) use of force, between cooperation and domination, and between power-with-others and power-over-others. And the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act can be that bridge between our abundant birthright and the application of our true nature (compassionate, cooperative, power-with-protection). Are you able to both experience the empathy for those victimized by the tragedy and still optimistically imagine the magic of possibility?
What do you say we make that part of the George Floyd legacy? Are you with me?
As an American of African ancestry (whose shade of brown is not as light as some), when I read the part of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act that had to do with putting a framework into place to prevent and remedy toxic stereotyping (lighter shade of brown, good; higher shade of brown, not so good), I was relieved. I was also (surprisingly) really concerned about a number of my cousins and their mental health. Why? Because as much as our family has been conscious of being in a group that has metaphorically been the “neck” (under the knee) for centuries, given that half of my cousins are a combination of European and African ancestry, I’ve recently become aware that for them (even though society may see them as one or the other), they are energetically and psychically reconciling with being both the knee and the neck. And thankfully I was recently able to offer those family members some much needed empathy. How does that intersectionality land with you? What other intersections do you see when you think of America’s police violence legacy?
Are you ready to bring some tranquility to the American family? Then let’s do this. Let’s call the Senate phone line at (202) 224-3121 and assertively (and empathically) encourage our senate teammates to support the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. You ready? You set? Then LFG! Let’s pass the bill that Rep. Karen Bass brought to the floor last June, and let’s reduce police torture, expose toxic outuition, enable personal responsibility, empower non-privileged communities, and address the unhealed intergenerational wounds caused by centuries of minimization, dehumanization and demonization. You & WE. Feel me, Team Democracy?
Rest In Power, George and Breonna (we do this in your light and your honor).
“Believe in believing, the impossible is possible” ~Lauren Gussis
