June 2nd, 2020 In this issue, we look at some of the issues arising from George Floyd’s murder. Although there has been outrageous police brutality and injustice towards blacks, not all police officers have been culpable- but the system and its administrators have been entirely culpable. Still, I want to say that despite that, I believe that the majority of law enforcement officers in the United States are essentially good people, although perhaps many needing more understanding of who they serve. I am counting on law enforcement and the military in the United State to give priority to their oath of office in this on-going pandemic and during these racial injustice protests.

There were a number of extraordinary moments during these last few days, ones that show the extreme dedication of leaders in law enforcement to the principles of justice and the rights of citizens. In the following video ,CNN’s Sara Sidner speaks with Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo and serves as a kind of intermediary between the Chief and Floyd’s family. It is a remarkable video which gives me a lot of hope in the capacity of some of our leaders of law enforcement to deal with the real issue here- the injustice and brutality that has harmed the black community for so many difficult years going back the early history of what is now the United States.

This is a remarkable dialogue between a group of protestors and Bellevue, Washington police chief, Steve Mylett. It reminds me of the spirit I experienced in the early civil rights movement. If we are to succeed in our current fight for freedom- on so many levels- we need people like this to defend our rights.

In another inspiring video, Genesee County, Michigan Sheriff Chris Swanson spoke to protestors who had been met by police officers in riot gear. After a few moments, he takes off his riot gear and then joins the protest.

After three nights of riots and looting in various American cities, President Donald Trump Trump said the following to state governors in a video teleconference on Monday. . “You have to dominate or you’ll look like a bunch of jerks, you have to arrest and try people,”.

To many, Trumps response to the protests was disturbing. Here’s how Houston police chief Art Acevedo responded to President Trump telling governors to “dominate” protesters.”.

I have been aware of police brutality for a long time. After a sit-in in Annapolis, Maryland, following a sit-in, myself and 15 other participants were tried for disorderly conduct. We were represented by Juanita Mitchell, an attorney, who was the head of the NAACP in Maryland, My father, also an attorney, travelled to the trial from New York and acted as co-counsel. Afterwards, there was a police brutality hearing, where we were represented by Mrs. Mitchell. I was present at both. I obviously was very proud of my father and was awed at Mrs. Mitchell’s performance at the trial and the police brutality hearing. She was powerful, unafraid and outspoken. This was just one small part of Mrs. Mitchell’s extraordinary efforts at integrating America. She was one of my first real world icons.

Years later, I witnessed my father defending a victim of police brutality in Suffolk County which the police were caught doctoring hospital records. Still, they got away with it. This was a travesty of justice. Further, the year he retired, my father defended the victims in four brutality trials, defending the victims. Since I was a child, I hated this type of racial injustice- and there is no question that black people, among other minorities, have been denied justice on every level.

There is no doubt of the disturbing persecution of minorities by government in our country. But looking at the Constitution and the Spirit of the Declaration, there is no question that the entire population of America has been subjected to a great deal of abuse, owing to the failure of government to adhere to the Constitution, moral and spiritual law and our various treaties and alliances. A lot of this relates to the creation of a Surveillance State right in front of our faces. And now we can see how Covid-10 contact tracing mechanisms can bring us closer to a dangerous Brave New World.

In our situation today, a great deal of what transpires is not just government but more or less a private/public alliance. Here are some concerns about Apple and Google’s contact tracing activities- and how are those actions going to further intrude on our privacy and freedom?

We have now discussed discussed the positive stance that police officials can take if we want to. But there is no question that dialogue is not always possible and that sometimes force must be deployed.

From a spiritual point of view, when force is used, it needs to come from a higher place- a place that does not forget that every person is a child of God, no matter how distorted, hateful and insane their actions can be. To find this state within oneself is not usually a simple matter. It is actually, to some of us, a critical component of the Spiritual Path, taught by spiritual people everywhere, no matter by what label they identify themselves.

I know, considering the depth of the problems this world is submerged in, it could seem impossible to change the course of events. So should we give up? I say-

NO!!!! MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, SOMEWHERE,
THERE’S A START OF SOME KIND OF SOLUTION….

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