A horse-drawn carriage carried the body of Philandro Castile through the streets of St. Paul, Minnesota.
More than a thousand miles to the south on Interstate 35, processions of hearses and police cars wound through the streets of Dallas, Texas and its suburbs, carrying the bodies of Officer Brent Thompson, Sgt. Michael Smith and Sr. Cpl. Lorne Ahrens. The scene will be repeated Friday and Saturday for the funerals of Officers Michael Krol and Patrick Zamarripa, all killed by a man seemingly bent on revenge for the death of Castille and others.
President Barack Obama convened a summit of sorts Wednesday. Black activists and law enforcement representatives exchanged ideas of how to bridge the divide between the police and people of color.
Obama said “we’re not even close to being where we want to be.” And from what’s being written and said, getting close will take many more conversations and understanding by both sides of the divide.
Counting My Blessings at Age 75
Our progress has always come from struggle and sacrifice. The powerful do not dispense change; the people must demand it….In my lifetime, the civil rights movement has made America better. Our diversity is now our strength….At 75, I celebrate my blessings.