NAACP chief: Our communities are angry and saddened. But we must be strategic and measured in battling injustice. – The Fayetteville Observer

The unrest we are seeing today is what happens when the road to justice is too long and drawn-out. These uprisings are a result of our communities feeling as though, once again, nothing is going to be done.

If the indefensible murder of George Floyd was not already enough, we have watched in horror the past few nights as our people were shot at, tear-gassed and beaten. This moment calls for us to unite around the outrage we feel and fight for the justice we demand. Now is the time to stand up and speak out as we guide our communities and our nation to the right side of justice. But let us be rational and move with care to make our voices heard with a lasting impact.

The following is a measured NAACP Response:

Between 1920 and 1938, the NAACP flew a flag outside its offices that read "A Man Was Lynched Yesterday" to mark the lynching of black people in the United States. It is a shame on our nation that almost a century later, black people continue to be brutalized and killed by racists.

The murder of George Floyd by police is an unspeakable tragedy. Sadly, police brutality against the black community has been an ever-present occurrence, dating back to its roots as a method used to preserve the system of slavery.

The arrest of ex-Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin is not enough. There are three other officers who are just as complicit in killing Mr. Floyd. We want them all charged for their role in this inexcusable death.

The uprisings taking place in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Minnesota, Kentucky, Los Angeles and many other locations across this country are a result of the anger, fear, sadness and distrust that have manifested for years throughout our community. Enough is enough. We. Are. Done. Dying.

These are NOT isolated incidents. They are directly related to the systemic racism that plagues our country at an even more alarming rate than the coronavirus. Our communities have been in a state of emergency long before the first COVID-19 case was brought to light.

We are calling for federal legislation similar to a hate crimes bill to be developed, which would provide detailed procedures and penalties in cases of blatant police brutality. The unrest we are seeing today is what happens when the road to justice is too long and drawn-out. These uprisings are a result of our communities feeling as though, once again, nothing is going to be done.

We watched as the President gave alt-right protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, the benefit of the doubt, even when videos showed them terrorizing innocent Americans. Yet in this moment of anger, sadness and fear at the continuous death of black lives at the hands of the police, this President chooses to characterize people who are mourning the loss of Philando Castille, Sandra Bland, Michael Brown, Jr., and now George Floyd as "thugs."

This Presidents actions are disgusting, yet not unexpected. He has proven to be incapable of displaying the competency and compassion necessary in this moment to lead this country through a turbulent time turbulence which has been largely orchestrated by his intentional marginalization of our communities.

Our recent national survey reported that 75% of Black people feel that Trump is the SINGLE greatest threat to the African American. That feeling was only amplified in one of his early morning tweets where he glorified violence against Americans stating that "When the looting starts, the shooting starts!"

Our communities are angry and saddened. But we must be strategic and measured as we battle this latest grave injustice. The NAACP will not rest until we see these officers charged and convicted for the murder of George Floyd. We must keep our focus on redressing the systemic racism against our community that led to this tragedy. We cannot afford to do so while losing more black sons and daughters.

While we protest peacefully, make persistent demands, and fight politically, let us remember that we are still under a pandemic with more cases of COVID-19 and deaths being reported in our communities. Let us not forget to practice safe distancing and wear masks to protect one another.

Most of all if we want to effect change, we MUST be determined to VOTE in November and encourage everyone in our circle of influence to VOTE. Please dont neglect participation in the 2020 Census.

Jimmy Buxton Jr. is president of the Fayetteville Branch of the NAACP.

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NAACP chief: Our communities are angry and saddened. But we must be strategic and measured in battling injustice. - The Fayetteville Observer