Black Lives Matter - Protest at the Capitol - 2016-07-15

In the past couple days I realized that I hadn't formally edited pictures from the Black Lives Matter protest last July in the wake of the shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile.

As a white man coming away from that event at the Texas State Capitol in Austin I remember feeling that it's on us white people to end the racial disparities that people of color face every day. It's on us to "limit police interventions, improve community interactions, and ensure accountability." It's on us to reform incarceration practices, to ensure employment, to ensure access to pre-natal care and insurance, to increase high school graduation, college graduation, and access to advanced degrees... the list goes on.

These feelings were deeply felt before Obama left office. And, this administration with Confederate Jeff at the helm of the Attorney General's office pushing for antebellum policing and punishment tactics is just the biggest reminder that your silence as a white person equals consent. It's on us as white people to be out rallying for people of color, for immigrants, for people who are transgender, and for women. It's on us to speak to our kids, our families and colleagues about the injustices our brothers and sisters in our communities are facing.

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At the end of the day I know that my speaking up for others lets friends, family, and colleagues know where I stand and adds another drop in the bucket on the scales of change. 

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