Books By Ed Mitchell I Have a Dream Martin Luther King

As I watched Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kill George Floyd, an unarmed black man, I was reminded of growing up during the civil rights movement in the 1960s. Watching the non-violent marches and the Federal government enforcing the right of black students to attend an integrated high school was one of the reasons why I felt being a soldier and protecting this country and what it stands for — was a good thing to do.

After Floyd’s unnecessary death, I agreed that the subsequent peaceful protests calling for verified reform within police departments was a legitimate demand. But the looting of businesses, burning of buildings, and physical attacks on policemen and women caused me to wonder if the rioters and current black-movement leaders:

Know the history of the civil rights movement, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s dream for blacks in America and his influence on the strategy of the civil rights movement?
Know how Dr. King’s use of nonviolent protests fueled massive civil rights improvements in America from 1963 through today?
Or do they have another agenda rather than civil rights and equality for black-Americans?

I believe, if Dr. King could speak to us today, that he would answer those three questions by saying the following to all American citizens:

Georde Floyd, non-violent protest, Dr. King, Lincoln Memorial, I have a dream — Dr. King, Aug 26, 1963

Dr. King’s voice: It has been 57 years since I had the duty and honor to speak to 250,000 black and white civil rights activists at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., on August 28^th, 1963.

Much has changed for the better since then. Federal and state laws have been passed and enforced, even in the deep south, to implement civil rights and justice for the Negro. Thus, helping deliver to our people what was promised to us in the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and The Emancipation Proclamation.

These laws have opened restaurants, buses, schools, neighborhoods, jobs, voting booths, and elected-office to our black brothers and sisters. A Negro was even elected as president of this wonderful country twelve years ago. It is satisfying to look down from heaven and appreciate these building blocks of systemic-equality that did not exist when I, and other Americans, marched to Selma, Alabama.

Yet, racism still lurks in the hearts of some men of power, such as the policeman that killed George Floyd in Minneapolis a few weeks ago. So, my soul cried watching cruelty that I and other civil rights activists fought and died to stop. An act intended to block the sweet security of justice for the Negro who unfortunately crosses the racist’s path.

Bitter-sweet, but beautiful, was the immediate emotional-judgment, from coast-to-coast, about Floyd’s unjust death. An instant brotherhood that crossed all ethic-groups, ages, and gender that recognized that the racism of a few must yet be removed from America. My heart further swelled with pride when non-violent protestors marched in many states, legitimately demanding urgent changes in police departments.

I wish that the universal repudiation of racism had been seized by the today’s civil rights leaders, as a milestone in this country’s march toward true integration and equality for all citizens — no matter their color. But it was not. More saddening was the violent riots, theft, and attacks on businesses and neighborhoods while civil rights leaders did not condemn behavior that would harm our movement.

violent, riots, George Floyd, black lives matter, protest — Rioting in Minneapolis May 26, 2020

So, I will again share the words that I uttered at the Lincoln Memorial. “… there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: in the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again, and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.”

“… I say to you today, my friends so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

“… I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

equality, George Floyd, Martin Luther King, civil rights, protests, riots — With justice for all

I also offer this advice to today’s civil rights activists. Do not let our glorious movement be kidnapped by people who hate, people who harm, people who loot, or people that have a political agenda against America. Instead, embrace the power of legitimate non-violent protest. Then bring a half-million Americans to the Lincoln Memorial and carry our movement to its beautiful goal: One country under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.