Heavy hitters speak on race, violence and the need for unity
by S. Rotan Hale
As news continues to inundate the airwaves regarding the most recent killings of two more African Americans by police which reportedly triggered a deadly ambush against police in Dallas Texas–leaving five dead and seven injured.
Such devastating events have raised already boiling tensions between police and the African American community to an all-time high.
Responding to the recent rash of violence nationwide, Brenda Hale, president Roanoke Branch NAACP organized a vigil Saturday, July 9 at the Martin Luther King Bridge in downtown Roanoke.
A sizable gathering of concerned citizens was joined by a group of city officials that also included local clergy members.
The hour-long session was appropriately staged at the base of King’s statue and by all accounts did the setting justice as many spoke eloquently on the need for peace in the wake of such tumultuous times.
“Now is the time for us to come together in unity and not division,” said Mayor Lea. “We as a city along with Council are not going to let the actions of a few define who we are and what we are all about.
The mayor mentioned a discussion he had with local police officers the day before the vigil whereby he encourage them and expressed his support for the men in blue.
“We ask police officers to go out and put their lives on the line to protect and to serve.”
“There may not be a political solution and as an elected official, constructive dialogue regarding race relations will be initiated among city council,” said Lea who took the opportunity to call on the faith community to join in the struggle.
Longtime councilman Bill Bestpitch emphasized the notion that “the easiest thing for us to do as human beings is to think in terms of us and them” and referred to it as “an idea hardwired in human behavior.”
“We have got to get over that,” Bestpitch said, because we all work together and everyone of you can make a difference.”
“The hardest enemy to overcome anywhere is the enemy within. I want to challenge each and everyone of us today to look deep down inside and see where our hearts are. Is there any fear. Is there any mistrust. Is there any prejudice that we need to be honest about…and bring out so that we truly can come together,” he added.
“We can choose hate or hope,” said Deputy Tim Jones who was appointed Roanoke’s Police Chief just days following the vigil. As a local native, Jones briefly mentioned early Roanoke conditions when “tensions were tough, race relations were not good and dialogue was non-existent.”
“Do not feed evil, feed hope,” he said after lifting those in attendance as agents of positive change.
YALE youth program director Jeff May delivered an encouraging report regarding the graduation of 90 students earlier that day.
“If you want to know what TAP is doing about the problem… look at these teens who are no longer on the truancy docket or on probation anymore but are graduating seniors on their way to college or trade school.”
“If you want to make a difference it starts at home, it starts in our community, it starts in our churches and it starts with our young people.”
YALE (Young Adult Life Enhancement) is a program initiated by TAP whereby court involved youth (ages 14-24) are equipped with the necessary skills to effectively reintegrate into society.
One of the most encouraging messages of the event came from a young charismatic minister Rev. Jamal Jackson, pastor, Outpour Church, Collinsville, VA.
Jackson’s powerful message first centered around the misconception that “we (African American men) are all thugs…drug dealers, womanizers and are all doing something contrary to what is right and in accordance with what makes us strong African Americans.”
He talked about the recent killing of Alton Sterling, shot by police in Baton Ruge, LA and how Whites couldn’t possibly know how a Black person feels regarding such incidents.
“Our message has been given,” he said referring to those who spoke before him. But we have to change our method!”
Rev. Jackson continued as he denounced the shooting of five officers in Dallas–bolstering his point of “changing our methods” regarding our attempts to address the problems of race and the ensuing violence.
“Our methods have been wrong for centuries but our message is we are equal. Our message is we want peace…we want justice. But the way we get it is most important. We cannot get it fighting and shooting each other but the way we get it is by uniting one with another.”
Jackson, standing in the glistening late evening sun, delivered a dynamic and profound message that surely would have made Martin himself proud as it spoke volumes to a hungry crowd in search of answers.
Others chosen to speak were councilwoman Michelle Dykstra, TAP CEO Annette Lewis; Rev. Christine Ziglar, pastor, Mount Zion AME Church; City Manager Chris Morrill, Dr. Judy Love Bowman and Virginia Senator David Suetterlein.
It’s easy to become discouraged and complacent when evidence of our world drastically changing in troubling ways is everywhere.
We must not only find comfort in forces which offer temporary relief, but join the world of energized individuals already actively engaged (with a sustained momentum) in the ongoing movement against violence, racism, hatred and other elements contributing to the scourge of darkness that threatens our communities, our nation and our world.
