“No Less Than Holy: Finding Communion in #BlackLivesMatter”
“I had felt the same, undergirding goodwill at the occupation of the Minneapolis 4th Precinct police station. In and amidst the chants and signs and speeches, there were hugs and gripped shoulders, smiles of recognition, and introductions between friends of friends. They used words like “beautiful,” “sacred,” and “love.” A friend who lives by the tenets of the Catholic Worker movement, and who was maced by police officers on the fourth night of the protest, described the assistance he received from strangers — who poured milk over his eyes and then provided him with dry clothes — as no less than “holy.”…
Black Lives Matter’s logistical organization of the protest at the 4th Precinct largely inspired the goodwill professed by participants there. Organizers solicited and accepted donations of food, clothes, firepits, coffee, bail money, even bodywork. When author Ryan Berg asked a volunteer how he might assist, she surveyed her surroundings and said, “We might need more lids for coffee in a few hours.” Preparedness did not protect protesters from vigilante or police violence, but it did hold a space within each of us for compassion.”
There is something in here about the central role of community, and knowledge that I think we have American culture. I have had so many magical moments, when people are really reaching the height of their abilities to use their best skills, because of communities that are supportive and thoughtfully organized to recognize human needs.
I thinks this I also helpful for expressing what protests are actually like; the primary emotion isn’t anger, it really is motivated by love and value and respect for the people around you. And the people you are marching for.
