She took a case once in the United States. It had been in one of those metropolitan centers that Americans prided themselves on so much. She hadn't been impressed by what she saw. The towering buildings surrounding her, the unremarkable faces on the street. No, all of that fell away around her when she logged in to the chat rooms and read what was being said. Of all the places she had seen, and all the voices she had heard, she would always be amazed by the national pride that welled up and overflowed in words typed out and shared to the world. It was like that all over the world. Human avarice. Human entitlement. Human desperation to maintain some semblance of peace.

She knew, perhaps better than most, that the peace was an illusion. She dug into the deepest and most dimly lit corners of information, and as she unearthed the truth. She could see that there was an artificial peace that just barely succeeded in covering up the voices of discontent. They lived in a world where children were brutally shot down in their own schools, where immigrants and refugees were represented as enemies, and where people could no longer put their faith into the men and women who were sworn to protect them.

What is the value of a vow when the public becomes "With the exception of..."? That isn't duty. It was and still is an abuse of power. She respected her peers. She respected her colleagues. She admired the men and women in blue for their heroism and their desire to serve and protect. She admired them, but humans are humans and corruption has rooted itself deeply in the hearts and minds of individuals. What is prejudice and indifference if not a form of corruption of the heart, the mind, and the soul?

Guilt, she knew, is not the marker of a criminal, it is the banner of the human condition. It is sympathy and remorse. It is taking responsibility.

How many times had she read the names? How many stories had she needed to uncover? How many times had the justice system granted leniency where leniency was not appropriate?

Sandra Bland

Tamir Rice

Freddie Gray

Aiyana Jones

Laquan McDonald

Trayvon Martin

Alton Sterling

Mike Brown

Oscar Grant

Sean Bell

Philando Castile

Ezell Ford

Eric Garner

Walter Scott

Dontre Hamilton

Natasha McKenna

John Crawford

Jordan Edwards

ReKia Boyd

Charleena Lyles

Yvette Smith

Tanisha Anderson

George Floyd

She said their names, and she recognized that there were many names that still had to be said.

Yet, she felt a ray of hope. The deeper she dug, the more she found a reason to believe in them. Communities came together to show their love. The moral, the upright, and the good always break through the grime and muck of hatred and anger and greed. There are people in the world whose goodness cannot be shaken. In the horror and the rage, they will protect even those who they resent. In the wake of battle, they will pick up the pieces and clean the streets. They will not be defined by the voices of the entitled.

A/N... I don't tend to get political, and I certainly wouldn't use this as a platform if it wasn't important. I know a lot of my readers are in the United States, and I don't ever intend to force my beliefs on other people but my friends and loved ones are protesting for a good cause.

First of all, to my black readers, know that you are heard. Know that your lives are cherished. Black is beautiful and worthy, and I wish the world loved black people the way it loved black culture.

Second, to my readers who don't understand why riots are taking place in the U.S. and why they're being supported, to those who feel attacked and confused by supporters of the movement, please open your minds and your hearts. Please be open to learning about the history, the pain, the suffering, and the anger that drives our protestors. Ask questions and please be respectful when you do because the people who can answer are deep in grief and mourning.

Third, to my readers across the world, please stand for justice in your own communities. I know that there are institutional, political, religious, and other civil rights movements all over the world, and I urge you to use your voices to the best of your abilities.

Fourth, to my readers who are wondering why this matters to you personally, those who are asking why should I care? Please consider that it could have been you. It could have been your mother or father, your brothers and sisters, your friends, your teachers.

Ultimately, I ask that you stay safe. Please do not forget that corona virus is still rampant. Please remember that violence is not the answer but recognize when peace has been taken for granted.

If you're a teenager or pre-teen and you feel that you're too young to make a difference or your voice doesn't matter, know that it does. Learn to appreciate every side and distinguish between hate and justice.

If you have the means to show your support, please do. There are many reputable organizations accepting donations. Use your social media. Talk to the people around you, just have a conversation, and please, please, remember that all lives matter.