5/31/2020

DJT,

            I was disappointed to read in today’s Guardian that your phone call with George’s brother, Philonise Floyd, did not go well. Philonise reported that you didn’t listen to him and were “pushing him off.” He said, “I just told him, I want justice. I said that I couldn’t believe that they committed a modern-day lynching in broad daylight.” I encourage you to find the courage to be silent so you can hear what folks are trying to tell you.

            When I looked at the photos of the demonstrations in Indianapolis, Denver, Salt Lake, New York, LA & Chicago, I saw faces of all colors. The young folk I saw had phones, not guns. They carried signs and spray paint, using words as their weapons. I was reminded of the images of protests in Hong Kong not too long ago of intensely committed young people who are not easily deterred. Now that many don’t have jobs to go to, they can keep this up for a long time. You will recall the “Occupy Movement” of 2011 – I think we may be seeing the start of something much bigger.

I worry that the folks who toted their guns in the capitol building in Lansing recently are going to show up at a protest and do something stupid. The Proud Boys showed up at a demonstration in Seattle. They listen to you, so I encourage you to tone down the rhetoric.

            Please let your better angels prevail and continue to promote healing as you did yesterday. Avoid threatening people with “vicious dogs.” I hope you are going to church today. You might call you friend, Archbishop Timothy Dolan (TMD), he might know what to say.

            MLK said, “A riot is the language of the unheard.” Let’s start listening.

         HYITL,