Okay, I’m done. Actually I was done a long time ago. Now I’m mad. Watching my home country erupt in violence and injustice, injustice that has always been there, has me completely lost for words. I would take another 6 months of quarantine over the past week. 1/ https://twitter.com/chadloder/status/1266952661791674370

Police militarization is a scourge on this country. When police are given combat gear, it separates them from their community, and turns them into an army, in essence invading communities where they are already seen as a threat. 2/

And when they’re dressed as an army, they naturally see any protester as an enemy combatant. As a hostile force that must be met with force. 3/

I know the police have a dangerous job. I’m saddened every time I hear a cop was gunned down in the line of duty. I always tear up with pride when I see images of NYPD officers on 9/11 running into burning buildings to save the innocent. 4/

Now I’m seeing images of them mowing over innocents. I don’t think I’m wrong in saying that they are disgracing the name of every officer in this country who has given their life in the interest of protecting the innocent as they shoot tear gas and rubber bullets at people... 5/

who are walking on the street. This is not the case of “a few bad apples”. This is a bad system that allows bad apples to hide behind a badge. 6/

I’m heartened by the images that have come out from Camden and Flint, of police joining the protests. Of being a part of the communities that they are sworn to protect. The fact that this is not the norm is sickening. 7/

I know, I’m white. I’ve never been afraid of the police. I was always taught that the police are there to protect us. And honestly I do still believe that. But I was taught these things in a school where, to my recollection... 8/

...I can count the black students in my 8th grade class on one hand. I was very insulated growing up. Now that I’m an adult and seeing and hearing the experiences of people who don’t have the same skin-shield, I wonder how much was the truth. 9/

What I do remember from history class was photos from the Montgomery protests and Tieniman square. All of these things seem like the distant past. Ten years from now, we will see photos from the past week in the history books. What are we hoping our kids will learn? 10/

Now to the press. I’ve been watching the press being torn down over the past few years. And yes, I have problems with the press. Different news organizations deciding what to cover and what not to cover, what angle to portray... 11/

...substituting opinion and speculation for fact is a real problem. Press covering events on the ground as they’re unfolding is not. 12/

The photos and videos taken by the press in the past week (as well as those taken by the citizenry) will tell the story of what has happened more than words ever will. And to those who come at me... 13/

...saying “they should just get out of the way” or whatever BS you’re going to throw at my feet, I can only respond that a free (and impartial) press is integral to a free and democratic society. And, the press are allowed into war-zones. Not our city streets? 14/

A free press led to the creation of this country. A free press gave us reforms in the medial world and led to the FDA. A free press exposed the horrors of war to those who stayed home. A free press has exposed corruption at every level of government since its inception. 15/

When we look at the whether another country is truly free, we look at whether there is a free press and whether the people can protest and petition their government without fear of reprisal. 16/

Can we truly say that right now, the US fits? Are the press and protestors truly free right now? 17/

To those (idiots) who say “George Floyd” was a criminal so the police were allowed to respond with force,” allow me to break this down. George was allegedly using counterfeit money. I say allegedly because at the time of his death, it was not proven that the bill was fake. 18/

Even if it was fake, he has a presumption of innocence until a jury of his peers decide he is guilty. And if he was convicted of counterfeiting, the penalty for counterfeiting money is a fine and prison time. NOT DEATH. 19/

(If one of the lawyers I know want to fact-check me on this, please do; I don’t pretend to be an expert). 20/

And to the idiotic “stay in your lane” crowd, I say, everyone in the United States is part of this lane. They live in a country where the rule of law is being ignored, the free speech and press rights are being stifled... 21/

and the people are afraid of those who are supposed to protect them. THIS IS OUR LANE. 22/

I’m not sure how to end this thread. I’m not sure how any of this ends. The protests can and probably should continue until there is change. The civil rights movement achieved the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Clearly those were not enough 23/

And I’m not sure what will fix the current problems. I think it starts with police reform, demilitarization and deescalation training. What else? I don’t know, but it’s not going to be enough until those in power recognize the problem for what it is. Ok. That’s my piece /End