Cop Killings In America: Caribbean Must show solidarity with Afro Americans

The Caribbean Is One Nation.

Submitted by the Mahogany Coconut Group

Alton Sterling

Philando Castille

For those progressive blacks, who were engaged in the civil rights struggle of the 60’s, the recent murders of two more Afro America men: Alton Sterling and Philando Castille, by police in America, must be a very chilling reminder that the race is not o’er and the battle has not been won. It is impossible to believe that those freedom fighters could have imagined that in 2016, their beloved country will still be displaying such barbarism toward the Afro American community.

Our Caribbean region should be most vocal, in condemning the acts of violence and we must seek to forge stronger and more progressive ties with our brothers and sisters in the USA. We must never forget that these shootings could have easily been our fate and we have only been spared by lucky circumstance. We came on the same ship but different stops!

The Caribbean has always been a part of the struggle against racism and all its evil fruits. We should never forget that Marcus Garvey is still considered by most historians, as one of the most influential blacks to have ever taken on the mighty and powerful white super structure that is America. Careful reading will reveal that West Indian freedom fighters and those of Caribbean origin have been important fighters against the ills of American society and its treatment of black people in general. We therefore cannot escape the reality that the struggle of the Black American for total equality is indeed our struggle as well.

We must therefore in our own communities, never rest on our laurels but must be always aware that there are many who will never accept that Massa day done. We still have vestiges of racism in all our islands and although we are not shot by policemen and we actually control the political process, there are still miles to go before we sleep.  For those who dwell in the Diaspora and understandably are proud of personal achievements, they can never be totally comfortable because their skin color is no different from our brothers and sisters anywhere in the world. Many Caribbean nationals would remind us that living in the Diaspora is a high price to pay for whatever material gains achieved.

The Mahogany Coconut Group therefore calls for the immediate ceasing of all police brutality against our Afro American brothers and sisters and demands that the wheels of justice move with the greatest speed to bring these rogue cops and murderers to justice.

We are also aware that widespread acts of violence against those sworn to uphold the law, is not the answer. We are equally aware that throughout the Diaspora, there are Caribbean nationals, who have careers in law enforcement and we would wish them no harm. Not all cops are bad and in defending ourselves against injustices, we must always be mindful that those who win in battles of violence are those who are most equipped with the necessary tools of violence.

The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. And those who seek to ignore history are prone to relive it.

The struggle continues.

MCG