Do not underestimate the power of this moment
Americans rediscovered the power of collective action last week. They found unity in what binds us — a common commitment to democratic self-government and equal justice. As a result, we saw massive, mostly peaceful demonstrations in every part of the country.
This was a case in which people were leading, and the best of our leaders swiftly moved to catch up. Hundreds of police officers took a knee with protesters. Reporters risked physical harm to show the events to the nation. And D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) told the president to remove federal troops, had “Black Lives Matter” painted on two blocks of 16th Street NW leading to the White House and renamed that stretch of road “Black Lives Matter Plaza.” Military leaders — both active and retired — declared their sympathies were with those demanding equal justice and made clear the military would not allow itself to be used for Trump’s repressive stunts.
Sens. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) passionately denounced Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) for objecting to anti-lynching legislation — a move so tone-deaf and insulting to African Americans as to defy explanation. Former vice president Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, delivered two presidential-quality addresses seeking to heal the nation and summon us to attack systemic violence.
Minnesota state attorney general Keith Ellison (D) charged now-former police officer Derek Chauvin with second-degree murder, among other charges, and other officers at the scene of George Floyd’s killing with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/06/07/do-not-underestimate-power-this-moment/
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