I woke up this morning to learn that yet another Black man had been shot and killed by police, this time in the Twin Cities, where I live.  Yesterday I felt mute with grief and rage about a similar killing in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  Today, I realized once again that staying motionless and silent is a privilege that I cannot afford.  As the old saying goes, If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

Philando Castile was compliant, and polite, after being stopped for a broken tail light.  His girlfriend, Lavish Reynolds, was dignified and nonviolent as she streamed video footage of his dying body on Facebook.  Yet she was handcuffed in front of her young child and taken away in a police car.  Philando's mother was denied the dignity even of seeing her dead son's body.  The cruelty and indifference manifested throughout this incident is racism, through and through.

This morning I have called the police departments, and the Minnesota Governor, and the sham of an agency that will do an "investigation" into why (but never finds any reason to impose consequences after these incidents). After I write this email, I will join others, including clergy colleagues and activists, at the Governor's mansion.  But that is simply not enough.  These killings are systemic, predictable, and preventable.  We need to take the actions to prevent them.

At General Assembly a few weeks ago, the CLF worked with other folks to host a two and a half hour presentation by Al Gerhardstein, a lawyer who has successfully worked with others, in many cities, to actually change police practices and accountability. You can find his tool kit on police reform here.  Al, who lives in Cincinnati, has worked for decades to engage the US Justice Department and local organizations to work together to change behaviors. Things have really changed in Cincinnati as a result of the hard work of people like Al.  Change is possible.  We created these systems and we can change them.  It will take, however, hard and dedicated focussed work. It will not be done simply by hanging up banners or posting our opinions on Facebook.  Our helpless rage, as real as it may be, cannot be a reason for inaction.  We need to claim our power to shape history.

I encourage you, if you feel helpless, to find others in your area who are working on these issues. Those of us who are white particularly need to follow the leadership of the people most affected by these systems, Black people and other people of color, who are the experts here.   Activists Deray McKesson and Johnetta Elzie have put together a very helpful, comprehensive website,  http://www.joincampaignzero.org/, which gives information about where to start.  Gather even a few friends and take time to analyze how things work where you are, and how impact might be felt the most. And, always, look for the local leadership which is already in place.