Cops Who Take a Knee

US protests dominate national and international headlines. And social media is filled with endless images and countless videos of the upheaval that is plaguing the country.

Nevertheless, in some places, a sliver of optimism peeks through the clouds of teargas and a dash of hope rises above the din of angry chants. 

The reason I say this is because news reports had shone on a particular posse of people who joined in with protesters to show solidarity. Even if it involved only a handful. Even if it was only for a while. 

“We want to be with y’all, for real. I took my helmet off, laid the batons down. I want to make this a parade, not a protest”, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson was seen telling protesters in Flint, Michigan on Saturday, before he joined the assembled crowd to march, eliciting cheers.

He was not the only one.

Police chief Joseph Wysocki walked with protesters in Camden, New Jersey, and officers hugged and knelt with demonstrators in Houston and Miami and Kansas City in Missouri and Shreveport in Louisiana.

In Santa Cruz, California, Police Chief Andy Mills took a knee with protesters, with the department tweeting it was “in memory of George Floyd & bringing attention to police violence against Black people”.

Two Kansas City, Missouri, police officers – one white man and one black man – were photographed holding aloft a sign reading “END Police Brutality!”

In Fargo, North Dakota, an officer was seen clasping hands with protest organizers while holding up a sign reading “We are one race…The HUMAN race”.

And officers in Coral Gables in Florida took a knee in Floyd's memory.

So too, did officers in Ferguson, Missouri as cheers erupted from the protesting crowd. 

It's good to know there are still cops who know that they are a part of the community!