President Obama: How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change

[muriel_volestrangler]

First, the waves of protests across the country represent a genuine and legitimate frustration over a decades-long failure to reform police practices and the broader criminal justice system in the United States. The overwhelming majority of participants have been peaceful, courageous, responsible, and inspiring. They deserve our respect and support, not condemnation — something that police in cities like Camden and Flint have commendably understood.
...
Second, I’ve heard some suggest that the recurrent problem of racial bias in our criminal justice system proves that only protests and direct action can bring about change, and that voting and participation in electoral politics is a waste of time. I couldn’t disagree more. The point of protest is to raise public awareness, to put a spotlight on injustice, and to make the powers that be uncomfortable; in fact, throughout American history, it’s often only been in response to protests and civil disobedience that the political system has even paid attention to marginalized communities. But eventually, aspirations have to be translated into specific laws and institutional practices — and in a democracy, that only happens when we elect government officials who are responsive to our demands.

Moreover, it’s important for us to understand which levels of government have the biggest impact on our criminal justice system and police practices. When we think about politics, a lot of us focus only on the presidency and the federal government. And yes, we should be fighting to make sure that we have a president, a Congress, a U.S. Justice Department, and a federal judiciary that actually recognize the ongoing, corrosive role that racism plays in our society and want to do something about it. But the elected officials who matter most in reforming police departments and the criminal justice system work at the state and local levels.
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Finally, the more specific we can make demands for criminal justice and police reform, the harder it will be for elected officials to just offer lip service to the cause and then fall back into business as usual once protests have gone away. The content of that reform agenda will be different for various communities. A big city may need one set of reforms; a rural community may need another. Some agencies will require wholesale rehabilitation; others should make minor improvements. Every law enforcement agency should have clear policies, including an independent body that conducts investigations of alleged misconduct. Tailoring reforms for each community will require local activists and organizations to do their research and educate fellow citizens in their community on what strategies work best.

https://medium.com/%40BarackObama/how-to-make-this-moment-the-turning-point-for-real-change-9fa209806067

[secondwind]

1. The last real President this country has had.............

[chia]

2. I just saw a comment on Twitter this morning asking for Obama to speak out -

I'm so glad to see this today.

[MyOwnPeace]

3. Loved the "comments" in the link..........

One person said: "wish there had been more progress in your 8 years."

O-M-G!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Obviously time to introduce that person to Moscow Mitch McTurtle!!!!!

[crickets]

4. Obama is handing trump constructive dialogue and strategy on a platter.

It's wasted on trump, of course. Fortunately others with more sense and reason are likely to listen.

[Andy823]

5. Best president in my life time

He is right, we need to get out and vote and "every level" not just the presidential races. We also need to make sure the numbers are so high that there will be no doubt of who the winners are. A blue wave so high it washes away all the scum that trump has put in the WH, and all the states, and local governments. VOTE BLUE!