The pain of George Floyd’s death should be felt and understood by every single American. The chilling nature of his demise is not a black problem or a white problem, a Minnesota problem or a D.C. problem, but an American problem.

What took place after Floyd’s arrest symbolizes how much work is needed to heal the gaping, 400-year-old wound of systemic racial injustice in this country.

Most protests have been peaceful demonstrations of hurt and rage, although some have been marred by violence.

We can use civil disobedience to acknowledge our horror at seeing a man lose his life under the unyielding knee of a police officer, and also find other ways to address inequities and racism.

While this tragedy has been turbo-charged by indignities and terrors of the pandemic—sickness, death, unemployment, financial hardship, isolation & depression—we still have much to lose if protests devolve into destruction. Our lives, our loved ones, our strength and our dignity.

This is a country founded on a great ideal, yet to be realized. But we can demand that it live up to its creed. We can enact change, even mired as we are in structural racism; poverty; inept federal leadership; covid-19 and the disparities it has laid bare.

The choices we make now, in this sorrowful moment, will define who we are and determine our future.