Barring criminal acts, public protests are the benchmarks of free speech and the freedom of assembly.
These rights are critical to the strength of our democracy. In much of the world, expressions of resistance much be secretive and, in the shadows, to avoid persecution. Those are forms of government that can survive only if voices calling for justice and equity are silenced. We can expect and demand more from our democracy, however.
We now seek to hold the government leadership accountable for the disparate application of the promises of the United States Constitution as well as the respective state constitutions. For generations, the deaths of unarmed blacks by law enforcement were known acts that escaped the scrutiny of Lady Justice. Too often the blue uniforms have protected rogue officers from prosecution and incarceration. Such deference only further entrenched their abuse of authority.
The arrival of the camera phone has now brought those deaths into our living rooms to be replayed until ultimately seared into our memories. Righteous indignation now erupts in the streets in response to the killing of George Floyd and others before him. Law-abiding citizens of all colors and creeds are seeking solutions, retribution, and justice as they stand on principle.
Jesus also stood on principles in his ministry; principles of love, respect, and service. Unequivocally, he was also no respecter of persons.
Equity was evident as he served others while also teaching compassion. He was an outlier in the sense that he refused to simply follow the traditions of the most powerful religious leaders of his community. He stood with the oppressed; he advocated for the less powerful. Thus, he was a threat to the existing power structure.
Consider when Christ overturned the tables of the moneychangers because, as he vehemently stated, “My house will be a house of prayer but you have made it a den of robbers. (New International Version, Luke 19:45) He rejected that tradition of business in the temple and aggressively expressed his objection, infuriating the temple leaders.
When the leaders wanted to kill the woman caught in adultery, Jesus rejected the tradition and said, “If any of you are without sin, let him be first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7, NIV) Those who thought so little of the life of the powerless woman sulked away after that challenge. Simply put, Jesus spoke truth to power with courage.
It is time for us to follow that example.
We must stand on principle, advocating for justice and fairness in our country for all its citizens. Speak truth to power with boldness; therein lies great dignity.
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