A Reflection on Black Lives Matter

Since May, a group of people have been holding a socially distanced
and masked vigil on Friday afternoons in front of the courthouse in
Ellicottville, NY, in support of Black Lives Matter. With no sponsoring
organization, the first woman to stand there with her handmade sign
was simply sickened by the George Floyd murder and felt compelled to
do or say something. Since then, she has spread the word to friends
and acquaintances. Ms. Chambers has joined this vigil several times
and found it to be an eye-opening experience. While the election of Joe
Biden offers hope that the United States will pivot toward more equal
justice, policing is primarily a local affair. Thus, in order to create a more
truly just community and world, there is an ongoing need to maintain
the pressure of the BLM movement and to radically reimagine what
(and who) policing is for.