ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST

Jacob Blake, an unarmed, innocent Black man was shot seven times by the Kenosha Police Department this week. I suppose this means another printing of THANK YOU MBPD signs will be available for local residents very soon.

George Floyd, the unarmed, innocent Black man whose murder sparked our national outrage over police brutality, was barely in his grave when the faux patriots of Manhattan Beach put up their dishonest signs. They didn't have the courage to declare their disdain for the blameless Black victims of police brutality; instead they chose to cynically use our local police as props to hide their scorn.

In light of the countless immoral and unjust murders by police in America, resulting in national upheaval and historic polarization in this country, the signs on Manhattan Beach lawns are as offensive as waving a Confederate flag.

Everyone knows when Trump says “There are good people on both sides,” he is winking to White America. Everyone knows when Trump questions Obama’s birth certificate he is winking to White America. Everyone knows when he calls Black Lives Matter “a hate group,” he is winking to White America. And everyone knows putting up a Thank You MBPD sign just days after police murdered another innocent Black man is winking back at Trump and Trump’s vision of America.

These signs have absolutely nothing to do with MBPD and everything to do with the smug and self-righteous trappings of White privilege. Manhattan Beach residents are using MBPD, the men and women who serve our city, as pawns - to conceal their contempt for Black lives. This is a disgrace to Manhattan Beach.

Freedom of speech extends to all in this great country. But I have no doubt that any house that had a Confederate flag waving on the porch would not have a Black Lives Matter poster beside it. And if these pretend loyal Americans truly cared about Black Lives, but just coincidentally decided to put up a Thank You MBPD sign at the exact time when Black people are being relentlessly targeted by hostile police, I ask them to place a Black Lives Matter sign next to it.