What is your Interpretation of the Slogan "Black Lives Matter"?

All lives matter except for terrorist scum. Plain and simple. This is also racist as it means no other race matters

In the old days, it meant peace and equality. In today's world, it means increased segregation.

I feel like this is something that is really a sad statement of how things are now. We, as a society, need to remind ourselves that the lives of one specific group of people have value. It should be common sense; unfortunately, it is not. ALL LIVES MATTER.

My interpretation of the Slogan? Of course they do.

I don't like the slogan, because it doesn't make sense to me.

However, I would guess that it implies that some people think that Black lives don't matter. I don't know who those people are as they are not in my circle. As a Law Enforcement professional for over 30 years, I have never seen or heard anyone imply that Black lives don't matter. However, there must be some folks out there who feel slighted by the police, government, or whatever. In my world, folks are treated by their actions, not the color of their skin, their sex, who they sleep with, etc...

The answer to the issue that lead up to the Slogan is easy to say but harder to implement. Treat EVERYONE with dignity and respect. We all deserve it.

Brother, you won't agree with what I'm going to say, but I think it cheapens everything. I say this knowing that there are a considerably higher number of blacks killed by the police than any other race, what that slogan DOES NOT take into account is the sheer staggering number of blacks killed by blacks on a daily basis. Where are the catchy slogans when those in B-More were killed over the weekend? How about those in DC where we're in the midst of a 20% spike in homicides compared to last year? Where are our brothers keepers? Why are we consistently seen as inmates (1 out of 5)? Why is the reincariration(SP) rate as high as it is for blacks? Why is it easier for some blacks to get a record deal than an education? Why is it cool to make one of our Queens pregnant and then leave her when the child is due and not support it? And to add insult to injury, go out and make another child with the same results? I remember coming up if you saw sagging pants, it was the plumber or someone in prison. Now the prison mentality has come out and everyone wants to wear their pants damn near to their asses. I don't want to see your underwear.

I've outlined a lot of problems in the black community, and here are some solutions. Good NCO's always come with a solution to a problem. Education and reinforcement of standards in our community. Start with the family and churches and get them involved as one to get the youth more involved in the community without the use of selling drugs or violence. Reinforcement of the belief that our Queens are just that; QUEENS and should be revered as such. If you treat them as royalty, you yourself are going to be seen as a King. Give them knowledge of self, and a belief in self worth bigger than the latest fashions, TV trends, or online fools they're watching. Give them a book instead of a ball. Read with them, and go over what was read. Less time online and more time outside (depending on area). Adjust the laws so that they do not target minorities; the laws regarding crack vs. coke was all about race, when it's well known that crack was sold mostly in the projects or ghettos, and coke was the recreational drug of choice for the more well to do. Adjust the laws so that while punishing those offenders, they have adequate chances for education, so they're not reliant on their old ways to survive, and we as taxpayers aren't supporting them as either felons or welfare issues. Adjust the slave mentality that many of us have. Do we suffer from it YES. Do we have to continue the suffering HELLS NO! Slavery was abolished over a century ago, yet we want to cling to it for relevance. If yesterday was so good, why do we want tomorrow then? We're not going to get 40 acres and anything folks. Get over it. Get off your ass and work for it. Serve the country, go to college, join the peace corps, and get a trade, something you can use to make money. Pride of a job well done with a paycheck to show for it can elevate anyone. Black Lives Matter ONLY AS SOON as Blacks realize that BLACK LIVES MATTER themselves. But to me ALL LIVES MATTER.

I concur with SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SGT (Join to see) SGT Nel Despradel and SPC Andrew Griffin. As an AA woman I don't understand why we must dance around the issue. Racism can and does go both ways. It's like this MSgt Mike Mikulski if I go to the doctor because I broke the bones in my foot, I dont want him to focus on the bonesin my back. Yes, we bleed the same, but we don't share the same experiences. Let's forget slavery for a moment. I've witnessed my husband SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" be profiled based off of the color of his skin! American need sto wake up. Something bigger is going to happen and it's only a matter of time. Self knowledge is the best knowledge regardless of who you are.

I think while it was well intentioned, the phrase tends to divide more than unify SPC Andrew Griffin. The phrase "Black Lives Matter" lifts up the hope of some, is ignored by most people, and ridiculed by a few people. If it had been birthed to draw attention to the drug and gang violence which results in the killing, maiming and imprisonment of a disproportionate number of "black" men then I think it would heave been better received in this nation. The slogan seems to have been birthed to draw attention to the killing of "black" men and youth at the hands of police officers or neighborhood "guards" beginning with George Zimmerman killing Trayvon Martin [shout out to SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4"
All human life is important independent of the color of our skin, our heritage, our belief or lack of belief, or our net worth. Each of us has been created in the image of God.
I hope that this nation will turn a corner and that more and more people will respect people and that communication and dialogue will increase throughout this nation. It is harder to hate people we know or know something about than those we know nothing about.

I wont go into an all out rant over this. I'll just simply say: HUMAN LIVES MATTER!!!!!!!!!!!!

Of course All lives matter but the slogan black lives matter is in no way racist. We have since the founding of this country been seen as less then human. Our lives have been meant nothing but more than animal for the majority of our existence. Now recently we have seen a disproportionate number of Americans of African descent being killed by those who are sworn to serve and protect. Someone would argue the fact that we bring it on ourselves by the way we act or the music we listen to. I would counter with music is entertainment the same way as movie is entertainment. Also why should they way that I dress of act determine whether or not I am gunned down in the street by law enforcement. Putting on a belt or not wearing baggy jeans should not determine if my life is worth living. Last time I checked this America and everyone is afforded the same rights or as least should be. There are plenty of criminals walking around congress in suits and ties.

SPC Andrew Griffin - Specialist, being white, I can't begin to understand the fear that black people face when pulled over for DWB and other such crimes. However, being Jewish, I do know from discrimination, and of course my people know about senseless killing...

The reality is that there are a spate of such incidents. Are they over-reported vs white people shot by cops? I don't know, because I don't see the police blotters from every jurisdiction, all I see is what the media report. But it doesn't matter. Shooting a fleeing suspect in the back and then lying about it, claiming someone dragged you with their car when their own body cam shows they are lying, etc... or an unrestrained prisoner in the back of a transport wagon, a street person choked out in an illegal choke hold, and many other such incidents.

If it's about "tunnel vision" then these officers are in serious trouble, because they can't control it. If it's about racism, then it's even worse.

I have read that the LA County SO requires all deputies graduating from their Academy to do two years as Corrections Officers before hitting the mean streets of Los Angeles... COs don't have weapons, so they need to learn to control situations with their minds and their mouths. Perhaps if all LEOs had this experience before hitting the streets, there would not be as many deaths and injuries, other issues notwithstanding. A fellow clergy person and disabled vet, an African American that I know, worked as a CO and he advocates for this approach for all cops...

Any thoughts from the LEOs out there in RP land?

MCPO Katrina Hutcherson COL Charles Williams SGT Joseph Goldman SrA Heather Ralson CMC Robert Young