As the unrest in Ferguson continues through its second week and shows no signs of stopping, I have noticed a disturbing trend among my friends and on the social media. It isn't surprising, by any means. I refer to the fact that Christians are actually divided over how to respond to what is taking place in Ferguson. Just like the police with their shields lined in a row on one side and the protesters with their signs on another, so too Christians seem to be forming into "camps" over their interpretations of the events following Michael Brown's murder.
Unsurprisingly, my liberal friends tend to side with the protesters, pointing to the systemic injustices of the past, the racism, the inequality before the law, and the underrepresentation of minorities on the police force and in the local government of Ferguson -- all of which have led to this boiling point. Meanwhile, my conservative friends tend to side with the police, emphasizing the need for respect for the rule of law,* warning about the dangers of mob rule since it threatens civil society, and castigating the violence and destruction of property that has sprung up at many of the protests.
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| Taking Sides in Ferguson |
But here's what I have seen: a grave injustice has been committed in which an unarmed black teenager was shot six times by a white police officer. I hope that at least that can be recognized by all. In response, some responsible citizens in the black community have rallied to ask for change in their community. They have acted nonviolently, they have prayed, sung songs, marched and assembled (as we are allowed to do in this nation, right?), and reminded the powers and authorities of a simple message: "Hands up! Don't shoot!"
Then there are the few who would spoil the movement seeking social change. These youngsters (for that is mostly what they are) don't care so much about the big picture, civil rights, equality before the law, and all that. Instead, they see something going on in their streets and use it as a party. Indeed, Ferguson has even attracted "looting tourists" from elsewhere. Such folks have too much to drink, they break glass, steal things, set fire to things, and generally act irresponsibly. Worst of all, they give what had the potential to be a movement for great social change a bad name. And this provides fodder for Fox News to portray every after Brown's death as one big anarchic fiasco. Sadly, the bad apples subvert those who are there acting peaceably for social change, like Hedy Epstein, the 90-year old Holocaust survivor who was arrested on Monday for "failure to disperse." Some responsible peace-loving protesters, in fact, even divert those who get out of control, pulling them back away from their destructive behavior.
So, in short, let's all recognize the complexity of what's going on. Let's not glorify Ferguson as though it is one of Dr. King's sit-ins (if only it were!) and also not vilify it as though every person out there were simply interested in killing cops and stealing TVs. Rather, let us all pray that the movement will find a strong, dynamic leader/s who will guide it toward radical social change through nonviolence. For, as John Perkins reminds us, "Love is the final fight."
*Where was all this talk about the "rule of law" when Bundy Ranch was leading the headlines?
