Today’s blog picks up from where we left off last week. A very provocative comment came in and I got a bit carried away in my response, so it has become this week’s blog. Consider it a two-parter. And please, weigh in—there is room for more.  Thanks to all who have already done so.

Thank you sooooo much for your comment, socialpoet. You are very thoughtful and have a powerful voice. I am really rocked by the in between-ness that you communicate—with your brother's professional decision and your own keen political and social observations. 

I have been talking to myself all day (some simple self-reflection and some chastisement) about not participating in the marches yesterday. During the period following Diallo’s murder, I was actively involved in the protests. I will never forget going to Webster Avenue in the Bronx for a prayer service and afterwards standing in the vestibule where he was standing. It had not been fixed up then and I saw bullet holes and stood about where Diallo did when he drew his last breath.

After the officers were acquitted, I participated in the protests and was arrested with a group of clergy. It felt like an effective mode of protest because it went on for days and weeks and the City had to truly contend with those of us who could not abide by the murder or the acquittal. Eventually the police unit was disbanded in which the four officers who shot Diallo worked. Miniscule victory—but something. Though not really, because since then others have been victims of this same kind of occurence at the hands of police.

Today I have been reading several documents from the late 1950s about the Southern Christian Leadership's commitment to and practice of non-violent resistance for the purpose of social change. The power of that kind of non-violent response is that it comes from the deepest expression of Christian love. It is a way of following Jesus to the cross in the here and now. It is the embodied practice of loving one's enemy. For Dr. King and SCLC, they knew that they would confront evil and violence and that they would resist and eventually change the hearts of the purveyors of evil and violence—through Christian love.

How do those principles operate now? King, et. al., saw nonviolent resistance as the most powerful weapon.  For them the solution was to "face violence if necessary, but refuse to return violence [and] respect those who oppose us, [so that] they may achieve a new understanding of human relations..."

Now I realize the basic and important difference here is that the Civil Rights Movement protesters chose to put themselves in the public in a potentially sacrificial position, while at the same time they were spiritually prepared ("prayed up" as my mother would say).

Even so, I am wondering if there is a new choreography of resistance for this new day? How do we as a community of grieving and outraged people make sure that these murderous incidents stop happening. How do we face down police bullets (50 in the Bell case!) from a position of non-violent Christian love? I know (KNOW!) that Christian love—meaning the loving example of Jesus the Christ--extends this far, but I am asking God to show me how.

Show us who are mothers and sisters and Christians—show us who are police officers and civilians—show us who are all races and all religions... how do we confront and subvert evil in this day and time?