I have kept silent throughout all the Covid 19 epidemic, and I kept silent throughout the current Black Lives Matter movement, not because I don't support, agree or disagree with it but because I felt that the opinion of a late 40s white male was probably not needed.

The murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police really got me thinking again -- as it should everyone -- about what we can do about this problem of homicide not prevented by but perpetrated by police who are supposed to protect us. It's a problem that has been erupting in America for decades, and caught on video ever since Rodney King was savagely beaten in 1991, which showed it's also a problem of assault and crimes committed by police that are less than murder. And though African-Americans are all too often murdered and brutalized by cops, Caucasians are also afflicted by life-threatening violence from police, as was the 75-year old man (Martin Gugino, a peace activist) thrown to the ground by Buffalo police, which landed him in serious condition in the hospital.

If you watch the news or any social media outlet, you can easily find an article about sexual assault. For instance, comedian Bill Cosby, Larry Nassar, the former U.S. Gymnastics doctor and Harvey Weinstein, a former movie producer have sexually abused women. Nassar recently received a lengthy prison sentence.

Indigenous Women Warriors: No More Stolen Sisters

Huge crowds, crowds larger than we have ever seen, louder than we have ever heard continue to form and march through the streets of cities large and small. And more than ever before the force driving these crowds is being reported on every day, all day on social and news media. We see it. We hear it. We feel it. So we ask: do the many voices shouting and bodies protesting in the streets mean significant change?

All Lives Matter

As everyone in the US should know by now a fair amount of peaceful protests for the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd have taken an unfortunate turn into rioting and looting. The anger from the unjust killing of George Floyd by the Minneapolis Police department has sparked outrage in many communities and this outrage has turned into many unlawful actions such as rioting, looting, and even violence against community members and officers alike. As more protests continue across the country it is important to understand how to protest within the law and when a protest becomes unlawful as well as the legal implications of the unlawful actions, which many people have been taking during these protests.

Those who may not have been strongly affected by George Floyd, helpless on the ground with a police officer's knee in his neck surely were troubled by what transpired on June 4 in Buffalo New York. An unidentified 75 year old white male was assaulted by two police officers and it was caught on camera. The man walked up to the officers and obviously said something. The next thing you know, he was shoved and fell straight back onto the concrete. As he lay there motionless with blood pouring from his ear, one of the many law enforcement officials who were decked out in riot gear tried to reach out and help. A fellow officer pulled him back and they all walked by leaving the man helpless on the ground.

Racism comes in many forms, can happen in many places as well. Racism includes prejudice, discrimination or hatred directed at someone because of his colour, ethnicity or religion. It can also be directed at you due to your national origin. It is not acceptable for a company, a person or an agency to treat you differently based on your race, religion, ethnicity or national origin. It amounts to crime prosecutable by law. For example, there are reports on record of landlords who denied tenancy to prospective clients because they were black.

What happened:

Please forgive what may be broken English.