Black Lives matter
‘I Can’t breath’ has become the rallying cry for all those demonstrating over the illegal and immoral killing of George Floyd by Derek Chauvin on 25th May with the involvement of three other police officers all of whom have since been sacked and Chauvin charged for unlawful killing with the other officers now also facing charges.
This terrible event is seen to point to institutional racism among the police in America. The story of peaceful demonstrations hijacked by rioters and looters has been the number one news item this week.
This should be of great concern to us all. This outcry has been a long time in coming and clearly shows that a great deal still needs to be done to build a just and fair society in America and elsewhere for all citizens.
Prudence in avoiding the spread of C19 with its potential for loss of life has been overtaken by the feelings of demonstrators especially in America, Australia and the UK.
But black lives matter everywhere.
I was reminded recently of the persecution of black Christians in Nigeria by Boko Haram and Fulani Herdsmen, Islamic Jihadists, where 620 Christians have been murdered in the first four months of this year and 6000 in the last five years. Since 2009 Boko Haram has displaced 2.3 million people. Yes black people in America and other Western countries matter but do black Christians in Africa and elsewhere matter less?
For good reason the protests in America have captured the headlines but has news coverage in the West been commensurate with the level of persecution suffered by black people of Faith? It is reported that Catholic bishops in Nigeria have condemned the federal government for failing to protect its citizens 47 % of whom are Christians and who are not included in state structures and levels of administration including the police and the armed forces.
A report Commissioned by Jeremy Hunt last year (then foreign Secretary) and carried out by the Right reverend Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Truro, was featured by the BBC. It was stated that 1 in 3 suffer religious persecution and that persecution of Christians had reached genocidal proportions. Nigeria is but one example. An internet search will reveal how widespread and terrible this persecution is.
The Golden Rule observed by the main world Faiths is relevant here, “treat others as you would like others to treat you.”
Yes, black people matter – everywhere.
Why? because God loves everyone. God is Love.