The design of the Funeral for Justice was so that everyone can participate: those who need to and want to remain socially distanced in their cars and for those who are just willing to put their lives on the line to have their voices heard. With the pressure of all of us, God can move on the hearts of our leaders to make the legislative changes necessary to bring reform to policing. Even this is a small step to changing what has plagued our justice system and law enforcement for 100s of years, but for change to come it has to go beyond our shouts, marches and cries.
This is something that MLK understood. Change can only come through all races, parties and belief systems coming together to bring a change to the laws that govern our society. This is the main reason we have changed the name from Black Lives Funeral to Funeral for Justice, so that it is clear that we want this effort to include all voices and that this is not just a “Black” issue. Our police must feel the weight of being under that authority and accountability of our government in how they relate to the citizens that they are supposed to protect and serve.
Most of our Civil Rights came as a result of fighting it out with our governmental leaders. It was a hard fight but it worked. This change can come in the same way. Just as our parents were able to see the day when there were no more “whites only” signs, we can see a day where NONE of us live in fear for our lives with police. This change can come by laws being passed to assure that.
This is what we hope the Funeral for Justice will inspire in people, the visual of the deaths caused by how police treat its citizens and the power of our voices together bringing pressure on BOTH parties to make the necessary changes in its laws and policies. You can participate in your car, on your feet, sharing images of the funeral on social media or all of the above, but no matter what if all our cars, feet and computers come together with this visual and shut a city down, may it inspire all of us to fight for police reform at the national level.
Funeral for Justice 