This week my family and I sent a letter to every elected official we have, from city council to the governor, state reps to U.S. Senators. In that letter we demanded better from our elected officials. Here is what we wrote:

 Gentleladies and Gentlemen:

We are writing you today to demand better for our citizens of color. As we write this, our family is witnessing the voices of despair rise up and march as yet another African American individual has been murdered by those sworn to protect them. Another life cut short by a person in authority acting as arresting officer, judge and executioner. We hear time and time again of black citizens being harassed in everyday life for simply doing the things people who look like me take for granted. Some pay the ultimate price. This isn’t the vision of America.

My family and I are demanding better from all levels of government. We would like to see for our police departments: more sensitivity training in our officers; more training in the use of force; more diversity training; more diversity hiring; more regular performance and psychiatric evaluations; more accountability; more community outreach; more openness.

This is not a condemnation of any single incident or individual in your district, this is a call to action because we can all do better. We believe every life has value, that black lives have value. We need just as much social work and services as we do law enforcement. We need just as much community outreach as we do riot gear. We need just as much addiction counseling as we do beat cops. We need more education and opportunity
than all of this combined. It isn’t about not being “tough on crime”. It is about compassion and empathy and humanity. I would never want to do the job of law enforcement. Most who do, we still believe, are good people. But, there’s got to be better than this. And, we’ve got to get there…fast.

We received back positive response with the city council and we will be speaking on the phone with members soon. We also participated, as a family, in peaceful protest as a call to action by those who we elect to serve all of us, no matter what the color of their skin tone. We are hopeful our message will be heard, but realize we can keep doing more, and pledge to do so.

As we look around, watch the news, hear the reports, we too are scared for what may come next. Yes, looting is bad, but property is insured and can be replaced, people can’t, and black people are dying. Yes, “most cops are inherently good people”, but why aren’t the good ones demanding better, and upholding their sworn oath to serve and protect…everyone? Yes, violence of any form is abhorrent, but why isn’t police violence against black people just as abhorrent? A comment on social media that stuck with me and sums up what is happening with race relations right now:

We’ve got ten thousand people slapping at branches to every one person striking at the roots.”

It’s been 157 years since slavery ended. It’s been 66 years since Brown V. Board of Education. It’s been 56 years since the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It’s been 52 years since they gunned down MLK. Maybe this moment will finally bring the change we are so desperately needing, desperately deserve…maybe. Watching, listening, it certainly won’t be for lack of trying. I’m just a 48 year old white dude from the Pacific Northwest, and, I’ve seen this over, and over, and over again. Demand better!