At least two opinion pieces have been released since clergy
were arrested at the Ferguson Missouri Police Department on Monday October 13,
2014. As I understand it, the clergy were there at the invitation of the Millennial
Activists United, a group of young Black leaders intent upon being the
motivators of justice for all, not just some. They have basically put their
lives on hold so that they might bring attention to the fact that there are
lives that matter, lives worth saving.
(See the two articles: http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/clergy-members-are-presumptuous-to-ask-officers-to-repent/article_cca3ba1c-9771-51da-a1a4-0015cf8fdb8d.html
I was told by a clergy member that was there, that the
intent was to share a commitment to this cause by showing up, by praying, by seeking
forgiveness for their own sins of racism and to be available to ask others to
repent and to hear confessions. They also sought to speak to the Police Chief
but were denied. At that point is when the arrests were made.
Was it staged? One could easily say yes to that. Just as Cornel
West stated on Saturday, he came to St. Louis to be arrested, to act in
solidarity with the protestors who had also been arrested for the idea that
Black Lives Matter. There were those who were willing to be arrested and so
they were.
Yes, Privilege was there that day – White and Economic
Privilege. Those who were arrested did not spend a great deal of time worrying
about whether or not they would get out or when they would get out. But that
was not the point. OR was it?
Those who hold a certain amount of privilege do not have to
worry about how they are treated by police or worry about their day to day
actions bringing on suspicion. Those who hold this privilege do not have to
teach their children how to react if the police stop them. They do not have to
worry if others are waiting with bail money as they are arrested.
Black youth do not hold that privilege on a day to day
basis. They are arrested…and charged…and sentenced, often without proper or
caring representation. It is a reality. The for profits prisons are full of
black men and women. As long as our prison systems operate on a for profit
means, there will be black lives to feed it.
That is the message I received from the clergy’s day of
protest and arrest.
But there are those who would change the focus. There are
those who would criticize. There are those who would cast aside the reality
that justice is denied for many, especial those of color or low economic means.
It is easy to criticize and refocus the protest. Finger pointing at
clergy is a really great way to sidetrack the real issue -- we are a racist
society with deeply embedded problems that will not be solved in a day. This is
a centuries old issue...we have a lot of work to do. Calling clergy
presumptuous because they did what scriptures tell them to do is disingenuous.
I say that these groups should shut up criticizing and get
off their probably white privileged butts and do something other than tell
those who are in action how to or not to do it.
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