[skarra]

It is indeed encouraging that people in the force feel the way you do.

Maybe you overlooked it, or perhaps it just needed to be written more explicitly, but I would also conclude ... "To the Protesters, we support you and stand behind you 100% - what happend is not acceptable and something big needs to change". There is a problem with how this is being covered in that the protesters and rioters are somehow lumped together, but that should not happen. They are 2 separate groups of people - people looking for change for a better world, and the opportunists trying to take advantage of a situation. Hopefully we all support the protesters 100%.

There is another problem though, and that is the blue "circle of silence" that enshrouds the police force. It's understandable that people stick up for their own, but it should not happen when bad things happen. The police union does no one any favors, and the fact that the police walked out in support of the policeman who shot Rayshard Brooks in the back makes me wonder just how large the 1% problem is. That officer will have his day in court, but for the remainder of the police force to call in sick in some sort of protest does not do them any favors in the minds of many.

I'm white, middle class, never been in trouble with the law and still feel threatened by police because of their heavy handed approach. I count myself lucky that I am not black - I can't imagine how they must feel both for themselves and their family. Every day must be a living hell for them when they wonder if the slightest wrong move by anyone including their children will wind up with them being dead. Not to mention how their civil rights have been trampled upon.

Black Lives do Matter. I think the entire world now realizes that this needs to be treated seriously because hopefully real change is going to happen.