It’s so close to our house that I’ve driven by it every day on my way to the studio without even trying. But yesterday Bjork and I actually got out and watched and listened and learned and wrestled with some hard feelings at the intersection where Philando Castile was shot.
The news / online narrative about all that’s going on right now seems to be: tension. fear. hate. violence. It’s overwhelming.
But here’s what I want people to know, since not everyone lives within walking distance of this and not everyone will have the chance to see this firsthand. I want you to know that today I was there and I saw a different story.
There were flowers and candles everywhere on both sides of the busy road. Strangers of all races and all ideologies talking respectfully with each other, even disagreeing with each other but taking pictures together and exchanging “free hugs.” One person playing guitar and a small group of people singing along.
Quotes, poems, Bible verses, and messages about LOVE and PEACE written in chalk all over the sidewalk. Posters and signs and cards with written memorials, stories, and love for Philando. It was almost all for Philando. But there were also several notes in honor of Alton. And I saw a handful of written memorials for the police officers killed in Dallas written by the same people who wrote memorials for Philando. Even one thank you written specifically to the officers who are keeping the protests in St. Paul safe.
In addition to all the love and outpouring for Philando, there were clarifying messages written for white people – “Yes, Black Lives Matter, and please know that our movement is not anti-white.” And thoughtful messages acknowledging white privilege – “White Privilege is: never being stopped on Larpentuer once in 40 years of living here.”
Cars honked in solidarity as they drove by, and as we were getting ready to leave, three little preschool-age kiddos came up to us to pet Sage – one White, one Biracial, and one Black who was proudly sporting a police badge sticker on his shirt. His dad stayed close behind him, reminding him to pet the doggie gently and not pull her tail, and Sage dog-smiled and wagged her tail (well, let’s be honest, she was a little nervous) and let the kids rub her belly. It felt altogether so regular and so sacred and so hopeful.
The hard work is not done, not at all. But to anyone who, like me, feels lost in all the negativity, you can know that today in St. Paul there were small steps of healing taking place. Between the heavy and deep sorrow for a loved one lost too soon, the overwhelming sense I got was one of love and unity.
Not everyone is hateful. There’s violence happening in our city, yes, but there’s also this. ♡ The thing about living in this time is that we have an opportunity right now to pick up our communities and move towards justice and healing. We have an opportunity. It’s time to come together.
Guys, it was all such a moving and raw experience that I forgot to take pictures, which is why these quick ones are from Snapchat – you can see a few more pictures and videos from the Governor’s mansion and the intersection where Philando was shot on my story for the next few hours. Username pinchofyum.
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