Sherry Kappel
Jul 21, 2017 · 1 min read

Nicole, I don’t disagree with how you feel or the vast majority of what SOB had to say, and trust me I read his article closely (as well as being aware of the circumstances around all of these deaths) long before I hit Reply. I was not trying to be condescending, as he’s a much smarter person than I am and I respect his views just as I respect yours. Nor would I call SOB racist — I agree with the argument that POCs cannot be considered racist while also being victims.

My only point — and I hold to it — is that people are diminished if they cannot be sad about another human being unnecessarily cut down in the prime of life, regardless of color or the other aspects of the case. Is it worse that the person was cut down because of the color of their skin? ABSOLUTELY. Is it worse that their murderer will get away with it? ABSOLUTELY. Is it worse that most of the white community will support a Justine and not a Philando, or that the press will find ways to blame the victim? ABSOLUTELY.

As I said before, I will keep fighting for the Philandos; the Justines obviously don’t need me, or you, or SOB. But if any of us needs to know the color of a person’s skin before we can decide whether to feel anything, it’s another win for racism. We can make all of the points SOB made, or that I made above, without saying “fuck Justine.”

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    Sherry Kappel

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    Looking for the Kind in Humankind. Heart currently Code Blue.