Indulge me for a moment.

In December 2019 a man with a machete barged into the home of a Jewish Rabbi in New York and attacked, resulting in serious injuries and the subsequent death of the Rabbi three months later. A friend of mine asked on Facebook today where the outrage was when this racist, bigoted anti-Semitic attack happened? This is one of a million examples that could be cited; a sad truth but fact, nevertheless. There is little doubt in my mind that anyone reading this has come across a multitude of similar thoughts and opinions. This is #alllivesmatter.

There is no reason why there should not be outrage and anger at the senseless killing or abuse of any person be it at the hands of a policeman, a desperate man or a mass shooter. People ask why crime and violence continues all over the world, in warzones and in wealthy neighborhoods without the resulting rioting and looting and social media outrage. I’ve heard that in a few weeks this will have blown over and we will return to social media selfies and celebrity obsessing. I hope that this is not true. I hope that this is just the start. If this is what you need to do to be heard, then keep on keeping on. Right now, we are focused on one people and their plight but not at the expense of others and this is what I think is being missed. #alllivesmatter but #blacklivesmatter more right now. Go find the analogy of the house burning and it should click.

In 2016 Black Lives Matter halted the Toronto Pride Parade and would not let them move until the Pride Committee signed a declaration that Police in uniform would no longer be welcome to the parade activities. There was a lot of support and there was outrage. I was one of the outraged because I felt at the time that this was continuing a policy of exclusivity rather than moving towards inclusivity. I bet some people would have accused BLM of being racist or bigoted. Is it possible that you can be for something but not against its opposite?

Nothing would have probably happened if George Floyd’s live murder was not filmed. Nothing would have probably happened if Christian Cooper didn’t film Amy Cooper’s vile rant. Just because we do not see something doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened.  

My friend Lawrence coins it perfectly. Be good, people.

How about we just stop doing things that require a movement start?

P.S. I am quite aware that things are not that simple…