The group “Black Lives Matter Saint Paul” announced their plans on Facebook Thursday to shut down the light rail before the Vikings’ home opener this Sunday.

“Black Lives Matter” has always been associated with protests towards crimes involving black males under the hands of authorities. When polled, black people say they worry about crime and want more protection against it.

“It’s been easy to blame other people for stuff like that and point the finger, but Black lives should matter to Black lives”. And I’m just a little disappointed to hear Richard Sherman speak on that and validate the people who think that. Because a 13 year old girl was murdered when she agreed to help police identify a murderer in that very same community.

First, we must tap into the respectability politics playbook and define the issues that must be handled internally. “Obviously I’m one person and there are other people out there speaking out against it but we do what we can”. But, here’s the kicker: communities of “respectable” black folks have already existed in America.

Unfortunately, this unrest has resulted in the death or injury of both black men and police officers. The community had over 600 businesses, a library, a bank, and even it’s own airport.

“Black Lives Matter is not just a hashtag”, Garza said. Did you have anything to do with black-on-black crime?

On Twitter, many users reacted to Wale’s comments. Black churches and organizations run programs for young people. Tiger Woods, you never know what he is or what he isn’t ’cause people of all political persuasions buy golf shirts and clubs and stuff. “The revolts in Ferguson are creating the possibility of a new Black liberation movement, which can put an end to white supremacy and emancipate African Americans”. In 1980 there were 143,000 black men in jail or prison. When the unemployment for white Americans during the recession approached the rate it had been for black people during normal times, journalists and politicians showed great sympathy for unemployed, regular folk.

Yes, as you said we’re all human beings, but the problem is we’re not all respected and treated as human beings. Although much later in the letter, he acknowledges “our ugly and racist past as a country”, I personally think that any “healthy and honest discussion” of “pre-existing bias(es)” and “peaceful demonstrations” needs to include direct references to these past and present issues.