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美示威潮／反暴力 欧巴马：和平示威参与投票才是改变正途
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标题：欧巴马：和平示威参与投票才是改变正途
As millions of people across the country take to the streets and raise their
voices in response to the killing of George Floyd and the ongoing problem of
unequal justice, many people have reached out asking how we can sustain
momentum to bring about real change.
Ultimately, it’s going to be up to a new generation of activists to shape
strategies that best fit the times. But I believe there are some basic lessons
to draw from past efforts that are worth remembering.
First, the waves of protests across the country represent a genuine and
legitimate frustration over a decades-long failure to reform police practices
and the broader criminal justice system in the United States. The overwhelming
majority of participants have been peaceful, courageous, responsible, and
inspiring. They deserve our respect and support, not condemnation – something
that police in cities like Camden and Flint have commendably understood.
On the other hand, the small minority of folks who’ve resorted to violence in
various forms, whether out of genuine anger or mere opportunism, are putting
innocent people at risk, compounding the destruction of neighborhoods that are
often already short on services and investment and detracting from the larger
cause. I saw an elderly black woman being interviewed today in tears because
the only grocery store in her neighborhood had been trashed. If history is any
guide, that store may take years to come back. So let’s not excuse violence,or
rationalize it, or participate in it. If we want our criminal justice system,
and American society at large, to operate on a higher ethical code, then we
have to model that code ourselves.
Second, I’ve heard some suggest that the recurrent problem of racial bias in
our criminal justice system proves that only protests and direct action can
bring about change, and that voting and participation in electoral politics is
a waste of time. I couldn’t disagree more. The point of protest is to raise
public awareness, to put a spotlight on injustice, and to make the powers that
be uncomfortable; in fact, throughout American history, it’s often only been
in response to protests and civil disobedience that the political system has
even paid attention to marginalized communities. But eventually, aspirations
have to be translated into specific laws and institutional practices – and in
a democracy, that only happens when we elect government officials who are
responsive to our demands.
Moreover, it’s important for us to understand which levels of government have
the biggest impact on our criminal justice system and police practices. When we
think about politics, a lot of us focus only on the presidency and the federal
government. And yes, we should be fighting to make sure that we have a
president, a Congress, a U.S. Justice Department, and a federal judiciary that
actually recognize the ongoing, corrosive role that racism plays in our society
and want to do something about it. But the elected officials who matter most in
reforming police departments and the criminal justice system work at the state
and local levels.
It’s mayors and county executives that appoint most police chiefs and
negotiate collective bargaining agreements with police unions. It’s district
attorneys and state’s attorneys that decide whether or not to investigate and
ultimately charge those involved in police misconduct. Those are all elected
positions. In some places, police review boards with the power to monitor
police conduct are elected as well. Unfortunately, voter turnout in these local
races is usually pitifully low, especially among young people – which makes no
sense given the direct impact these offices have on social justice issues, not
to mention the fact that who wins and who loses those seats is often determined
by just a few thousand, or even a few hundred, votes.
So the bottom line is this: if we want to bring about real change, then the
choice isn’t between protest and politics. We have to do both. We have to
mobilize to raise awareness, and we have to organize and cast our ballots to
make sure that we elect candidates who will act on reform.
Finally, the more specific we can make demands for criminal justice and police
reform, the harder it will be for elected officials to just offer lip service
to the cause and then fall back into business as usual once protests have gone
away. The content of that reform agenda will be different for various
communities. A big city may need one set of reforms; a rural community may need
another. Some agencies will require wholesale rehabilitation; others should
make minor improvements. Every law enforcement agency should have clear
policies, including an independent body that conducts investigations of alleged
misconduct. Tailoring reforms for each community will require local activists
and organizations to do their research and educate fellow citizens in their
community on what strategies work best.
But as a starting point, I’ve included two links below. One leads to a report
and toolkit developed by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
and based on the work of the Task Force on 21st Century Policing that I formed
when I was in the White House. And if you’re interested in taking concrete
action, we’ve also created a dedicated site at the Obama Foundation to
aggregate and direct you to useful resources and organizations who’ve been
fighting the good fight at the local and national levels for years.
I recognize that these past few months have been hard and dispiriting – that
the fear, sorrow, uncertainty, and hardship of a pandemic have been compounded
by tragic reminders that prejudice and inequality still shape so much of
American life. But watching the heightened activism of young people in recent
weeks, of every race and every station, makes me hopeful. If, going forward, we
can channel our justifiable anger into peaceful, sustained, and effective
action, then this moment can be a real turning point in our nation’s long
journey to live up to our highest ideals.
Let’s get to work.
- obama.org/policing-civil-rights-org-toolkit
- obama.org/anguish-and-action
4.附注、心得、想法︰
欧巴马是美国近年来最理性, 最具包容力也最有理想跟号召力的一位总统.
作为支持民主自由的一方, 坦白说
台湾也需要一位像欧巴马这样的政治领袖 出来领导
只可惜台面上似乎没有这样的人....