Here are some things that are true:

The anger is justified. 

Peace will only come when people of all colors and creeds stand together against racism and oppression. 

Racism is pervasive and everywhere. 

White privilege is real. 

There are more questions than answers. 

Here are things we must do: 

We must listen. To the protestors, to the victims, to the activists, to our neighbors.

We must give. Our time, our money, our attention, our consistent and forceful actions to fight for change.

We must speak out. AFTER we listen, AFTER we give, without ulterior motives. 

We must educate. First ourselves, then our kids. Kids need to know that racism is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

What we did before wasn’t enough. We must declare what is right – justice and equality for all people of color; we must declare what is wrong – systemic violence against people of color, systemic oppression of people of color by government and state-run organizations, the cycle of poverty that disproportionately affects populations of people of color. 

George Floyd deserves life and justice. Ahmaud Arbery deserves life and justice. Breonna Taylor deserves life and justice. So many others, so many names. Black Lives Matter.