I tried to ignore the nonsense I saw yesterday from various people on Facebook but finally I saw one ignorant post too many. Unfriending and blocking people is the equivalent of ignoring them, so instead I posted the following. I've included the original link at the bottom if you'd like to share on Fbook.
I'm interested in any similar posts that any of you have made...
OK, seriously people. I'm not going to call out anybody by name, but posting inflammatory pictures and talking about "those people" and calling "them" animals and focusing on the few violent people among the thousands of people who are outraged by police violence is really missing the point.
If you don't understand that there has been case after case after case where police have lied, where they have shot American citizens who have the same rights as you do, you're in denial. Darren Wilson murdered Michael Brown and got away with it. This is not an isolated case. African-Americans are more than 20 times as likely as whites to be shot and killed by police. The differences by race in arrest rates and sentencing for the same crimes are real. Look them up.
If you don't understand that there are entire sectors of the economy that are devoted to promoting your fear of "them" and exploiting that fear, then you need to do some research on for-profit prisons and the gun industry and the numerous ways that companies profit from your fear of "them". Stand Your Ground. Open Carry. You have to protect yourself from "them".
We really need to do something about real, tangible, provable racism in this country. Those of you who are posting those things need to look in the mirror, realize exactly how privileged you are, and figure out how you can do your part. I think not posting inflammatory, racist garbage would be a great start.
Original Facebook Post