A DREAM TORN AWAY

image taken from www.economist.com 

"Ron Johnson, the Missouri State Highway Patrol captain who oversaw Ferguson security during the summer protests, said the community must take some responsibility for the looting that took place Monday night. A pizza shop, beauty supply store and two auto parts stores were among those fires."

"Those are dreams," Johnson said. "Those are small-business owners, and we've torn those dreams away." (msnNews)

The statement above was made by a Missouri State Patrol in response to the looting that took place in Missouri over the course of the last few months. More importantly, that which occurred last night after the announcement was made that Officer Darren Wilson would not be indicted in the murder of Michael Brown.  

It is understandable that people are angry, hurt, sad, and let down by the Grand Jury's decision. I, too, am heartbroken. In 2014, we still have not OVERCOME.  We have no overcome police brutality, we have not overcome racism, classism, and injustice. We are living in a world of injustice and our reality is rooted in a history of pain and shame. We can not retaliate with the wrong artillery. We must use our minds and react with a purpose to demand change.

Furthermore, the above comment struck a nerve in my body as I sat down to read it this morning. I agree that these business took a loss and that looting is not the way to resolve a problem. Anger and pain makes many people act in ways that one can not predict. The rage in the people of Missouri is due to blatant injustice. It is also due to months of patiently waiting to receive justice for a young man's innocent life being taken by the hands of a police officer. 

Many of us do not know the full story. We do not know the 100% truth, but what we do know is that MURDER is a crime that is supposed to be punished. I am not surprised. Rather, I am infuriated by the decision of the system under which we live. The comment made by Ron Johnson, "we've torn dreams away", really settled in my spirit. Yes, businesses were burnt down and destroyed. Those businesses can be rebuilt.  Business owners lost money, that money can be remade. A city was destroyed, but it can be uplifted. A young man's life was taken and he can not get that back, ever. 

Where does our priority rest? Is it in the pain that is a result of the destruction of businesses or is it in the death of young black males? Do we care more about business owners' dreams being torn away, or the dream of mothers who wish to see their children grow old? Whose dreams were really torn away? What about the dreams of all the protestors in the streets of Ferguson? What about the dreams of Black people across the country who await the day that justice works in their favor? Whose dreams were truly torn away?

I am in no way saying that it was okay to destroy businesses. What I am saying is that we need to dig deep into the root of the problem. Once we get to the root, we must pull it out and replant seeds of forgiveness, togetherness, peace, justice, and LOVE. 

May the family of Michael Brown remember that real justice will be served regardless of a Grand Jury's decision. The Grand Jury is not the Ultimate Judge of character or the heart. Officer Wilson now has to live with conviction in his heart. He will answer every day to the only judge who truly matters. 

With Love,
-LaiMoné