About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (June 6, 2020)
11A OPINION She Stmts gainesvilletimes.com Weekend Edition - June 6-7, 2020 Shannon Casas Editor in Chief | 770-718-3417 | scasas@gainesvilletimes.com Submit a letter: letters@gainesvilletimes.com The First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. "Hey, I've lost my job. Could you give me directions to the unemployment office?" "Oh, that’s easy. Just follow everybody else." JIM POWELL I For The Times EDITORIAL What do we do now? If there is going to be change, it will come as result of collective effort of diverse populations If, as a nation, we are to emerge from the protests and demonstrations that have kept the nation on edge for more than a week, it likely will be because of the leadership of groups such as the Newtown Florist Club, the responsible activism of engaged young people, and the profes sional demeanor of law enforce ment agencies such as those found in Gainesville and Hall County. All were evident at a rally in Gainesville on Monday, where members of diverse communities gathered as one to denounce the sort of police brutality that led to the death of George Floyd, but did so in a peaceful and thought ful manner befitting an event that was about building brotherhood and searching for equality rather than seeking confrontation and promoting anarchy. The local rally, organized by the respected Newtown Florist Club, served both as a reminder that there remains much to be done to combat racial inequality in our nation, and as an example of how well-intentioned people can work together to make clear their anger at the status quo with out resorting to unnecessary con frontation and criminal behavior. In watching events unfold across the country over the past week, it is increasingly obvious there are two distinctly differ ent ways of viewing what has happened in the streets of cit ies and towns of all sizes and demographics. In one view are the vast num bers of peaceful protesters exer cising their constitutional right to assemble in order to address their grievances. These are the protesters with whom we have seen law enforcement officers praying, hugging, kneeling, marching and even dancing. In the other view are the smaller numbers of agitators, looters, vandals and thieves who have taken advantage of a national crisis of consciousness by espousing lawlessness and anarchy while endangering the lives of all involved. There is no doubt some have damaged prop erty out of anger and frustration, which is understandable but not acceptable. We should not allow the mes sage of the peaceful to be lost in the discordant noise created by the criminal. Those who protest legitimately need to be heard, their concerns addressed. Those who break the law need to be arrested, their misdeeds punished. That we expect law enforcement to make split-second decisions in deter mining which is which reflects the heavy burden we place upon those shoulders. In such situations, mistakes of judgment are inevitable. Given that, we would hope those who wear the badge would err on the side of the protesters. Spray paint will wash off, vehicles can be replaced, what is broken can be fixed, but lost lives cannot be regained. Those who advocate more aggressive actions would do well to remember Kent State, 1970. After a week of protests and demonstrations, most peaceful, some deadly, the question at the national level has to be, “What now?” What, indeed. Do we continue to slowly, gradually, chip away at racial inequities that are seem ingly inherent in our society, hoping that at some point down the road we can reach a level of equality that has so far proven to be impossible? Do we pretend the issue doesn’t really exist, and allow the current unrest to fade away as we careen into the next national crisis? Do we get serious about a national dialogue on perceived and actual prejudices within law enforcement, the judicial system and correctional institutes, or do we pretend the numbers aren’t there to justify action? It isn’t enough to shout in uni son that “Black Lives Matter” and expect change. We have to get beyond the slogans and hashtags and social media memes to the foundational humanity from which acceptance, compassion and mutual respect must spring. If there is going to be change, then it will come as the result of a collective effort of diverse popu lations, not as the result of minor ity activism, legislative change or governmental dictate. “If we want to move something, it takes everybody. When we’re all together, it’s better. It’s better together. It takes everybody sit ting at the table so we can under stand each other. It’s beautiful. It’s beautiful. And this is how we fight,” the Rev. Michael Thur mond said at Monday’s rally. For the most part, Gaines ville has seen the sort of coming together envisioned by the Rev. Thurmond, the Newtown Flo rist Club and local law enforce ment. Our protests have not been uneventful. Limited crimi nal damage has been done and arrests have been made, but the willingness of community spirit has so far outshone the feeble dark light of those with evil intent. The past week has shown us that despite how far we’ve come in the search for racial equal ity, we still have far to go. Yet it’s hard to see uniformed offi cers marching side-by-side with those protesting police brutality, to hear the articulate voices of young people of all races pas sionately engaged in the debate, to witness hundreds of individual acts of human kindness, and not believe there is still hope that, one day, together, we can get there. What, indeed. Do we continue to slowly, gradually, chip away at racial inequities that are seemingly inherent in our society, hoping that at some point down the road we can reach a level of equality that has so far proven to be impossible? Do we pretend the issue doesn’t really exist, and allow the current unrest to fade away as we careen into the next national crisis? Do we get serious about a national dialogue on perceived and actual prejudices within law enforcement, the judicial system and correctional institutes, or do we pretend the numbers aren’t there to justify action? Let s use this outrage and do something better with it I stood on the sidewalk Saturday night between the Gainesville parking deck and Carroll Daniel building. It was near midnight. After midnight. I really don’t know. I was there to witness the first night of local protests, provide some backup to our on-call reporter and take what photos I could with my cellphone. At this point, the reporter had already returned to the office, and I sent a quick note to our contact with the Gainesville Police Department to see if the police had a statement. The crowds of protesters that had earlier filled the inter section of Main Street and Jesse Jewell Parkway had dis persed or moved on. I waited on that piece of sidewalk, and the officer soon pulled up in his police truck. A couple of women I soon learned were involved with the Newtown Florist Club, Gainesville’s civil rights group, strolled by and stopped to say hello to the officer. This clearly wasn’t the first time they’d spoken, and everyone was friendly. I took the opportunity to interview them. Then they left, and I inter viewed the officer. “I’ll be blatant and honest, we have a lot of the same views on this incident,” he told me, speaking of the protesters. What happened after that is a bit of a blur. I think we were still talking when a small group ran in to the intersec tion again. At some point the officer was on the phone. At some point someone in that group shouted, “He’s by him self. Let’s get him!” At some point during this, he was still on the phone, and I tried to get his attention. He had not spoken to this group or threatened them in any way. He was in fact by himself, except for me standing next to him. More law enforcement was stationed well up the street. He calmly called for backup. I don’t remember if that was before or after the group had surrounded us, shouting, but it was definitely after they had approached. I couldn’t tell you what they were shouting. I know I heard a few in the crowds earlier cursing the police. I don’t know if this group used those same words, but they had targeted this officer. Journalists have been injured in protests nation wide, sometimes by law enforcement. This incident wasn’t about me. I was just witness to it. The next thing I knew, his helmet had been flipped off and he was running into the street. Someone there picked up his helmet, looked at me and then put the helmet in the back of the officer’s truck. At some point the officer pulled what I assume to be pep per spray. The group backed up. I don’t believe he sprayed it, at least not while I was watching. When he returned to his truck, I pointed out his helmet. And the next thing I knew someone was throwing fire crackers at my feet. Maybe a better journalist than I would have backed off and continued observing. I made a beeline for my car, breathing hard and tears beginning to flow as the law enforcement up the street moved toward the scene. What I’d witnessed made me angry. One moment, we were on the sidewalk chatting with protesters and moments later others had targeted him because of a uniform. It was hard to watch him be treated that way. In those moments and since then, I’ve thought about how hard it’s been for those with the same skin as George Floyd to watch him be treated that way. They have every right to feel outraged, and while most of us feel outraged at that incident, when it hits home, it’s different. The officer and I weren’t injured in any way, yet still I felt outraged leaving that scene. How so much more outraged we should feel when a man is killed, whether that’s a suspect whose life is seemingly given no regard or a retired officer killed by looters. How so much more outraged I imagine many to feel who worry that could be them, their brother, son or husband. There’s been a lot of debate over the difference between protesters and rioters and looters. One line of thought that struck a chord with me this week is that at least some of this reaction is a trauma response. In the world of foster care, we talk a lot about trauma. I’ve certainly been the target of a lot of anger due to trauma. Sometimes it’s a child screaming at me, includ ing some downright hurtful words. Sometimes it’s a child throwing things. Sometimes it’s a child hitting me with his little fists. It’s tempting to minimize his trauma, not knowing what the world really looks like through his eyes. In fact, I’m fairly certain I have minimized it before. That heals nothing. Sometimes I have to step out of the room to give us both space. Sometimes I need to sit in the room, showing I’m there for him. Eventually, the outburst fades and what’s left is often just the gut-wrenching cries of a child who is hurting. It’s difficult to manage the behaviors born from trauma. Throwing things and hitting aren’t OK, but I can tell you punishing those behaviors in the midst of an outburst has only increased the poor behavior, in my experience. Don’t misunderstand; I’m not arguing those who target police officers and damage property shouldn’t face con sequences. I’m drawing some parallels here, but trauma comes in different kinds and severities. And we react to it in different ways. There are ways we can responsibly express our anger and then use it to effect change and promote justice. And there are ways we should respond responsibly to those who have been traumatized. Rather than minimize their pain and focus solely on punishment, can we consider what healing it looks like? Shannon Casas is editor in chief of The Times and a foster parent. SHANNON CASAS scasas@gainesville times.com (the Unites Founded Jan. 26,1947 345 Green St., Gainesville, GA 30501 gainesvilletimes.com EDITORIAL BOARD General Manager Norman Baggs Editor in Chief Shannon Casas Community members Cheryl Brown Brent Hoffman David George J.C. Smith Mandy Harris Tom Vivelo To submit letters: Send emails to letters@gainesvilletimes.com or thecontactformatgainesvilletimes. com. Include name, hometown and phone number. Letters are limited to one per writer in a month’s time on topics of public interest and may be edited for content and length (limit 500 words). Submitted items may be published in print, electronic or other forms. Letters, columns and cartoons express the opinions of the authors and not of The Times.
