People Post is a space for opinion pieces, letters to the editor and guest submissions from members of the Long Beach community. The following is an op-ed submitted by Naomi Rainey-Pierson, president of the Long Beach Branch NAACP, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Long Beach Post.
As president of the Long Beach Branch NAACP, civil rights advocate, and an African American, I have been bombarded and overwhelmed with calls from friends and NAACP members about the footage of George Floyd. He died on the street under the knee of a police officer in Minneapolis calling out to the officers and his mother, asking for help because he could not breathe. The incident is extremely troubling and disturbing for people of all races. I concur with former president Barack Obama and believe his statement speaks volumes:
“It’s natural to wish for life ‘to get back to normal’ as a pandemic and economic crisis upends everything around us. But we have to remember that for millions of Americans, being treated differently on account of race is tragically, painfully, maddeningly ‘normal’—whether it’s while dealing with the health care system, or interacting with the criminal justice system, or jogging down the street, or just watching birds in the park.
“This shouldn’t be ‘normal’ in 2020 America. It can’t be ‘normal.’ If we want our children to grow up in a nation that lives up to its highest ideals, we can and must be better.
“It will fall mainly on the officials of Minnesota to ensure that the circumstances surrounding George Floyd’s death are investigated thoroughly and that justice is ultimately done. But it falls on all of us, regardless of our race or station—including the majority of men and women in law enforcement who take pride in doing their tough job the right way, every day—to work together to create a ‘new normal’ in which the legacy of bigotry and unequal treatment no longer infects our institutions or our hearts”
I also concur with the following great men and women whose words resonate during this time in history.
Albert Einstein: “The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.”
Martin Luther King Jr.: “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”
Cesar Chavez: “I am convinced the true act of courage, the strongest act of humility, is to sacrifice ourselves for others in a nonviolent struggle for justice”
My beloved grandma: “Baby, you are accountable for your actions. If you do something in the dark, and are not willing to do it in the light, you shouldn’t do it.”
I am in deep prayer and meditation, and here are some thoughts about the matter. We must be persistent, proactive and united in developing a positive plan to stop the senseless killing of people of color, especially African American males.
We all must work to see that all persons involved are held accountable and we should work together for that accountability.
I believe in the power of prayer, and non-violent, lawful protests. Because the African American male has been targeted for so long, we must stand together in prayer, positive protest and remain united until this long standing societal problem is changed and resolved. Most human beings will agree that the George Floyd incident was horrific. Let’s not just put this behind us and just move on. Rather, let us use this tragic event as a call to action, to work together in a brave, inclusive fashion to make tomorrow better than yesterday. We owe this to ourselves, our children, and to all mankind.