Yesterday, I unfriended a long time friend over this issue. She had ranted about Kaepernick taking a knee and when I brought up the subject that what he’d done was a peaceful form of protest she continued to deride the act, and then yesterday she was complaining about the violence in NC. I asked her if peaceful protests aren’t acceptable and we know violence isn’t the answer what would she suggest people do? She had no answer, and I suggested her time would be better spent looking for one, for all our sakes.

Eventually she she brought up Rosa Parks peaceful protest – when I pointed out that there is a chance that Rosa Parks would be shot on the bus, or die in police custody she said I was projecting on one of many possible outcomes. And, all I could think of was isn’t it a shame that she couldn’t tell me unequivocally that it could not happen, or that it’s a shame that she isn’t upset that there’s even a reason for protests on civil rights at all.

This civil rights fight is as important as our ongoing LGBTQ fight for equal and fair civil rights, and the fight we are still having over equal rights for women. Each of these issues are different but hang on the same principals, we need to be allies for one another.

If the underdogs educate themselves, learn to work together, and stand for equal civil and religious rights for all, (because let’s be real – religion does play a role here) we can make positive change in the world. But WE need to connect with respect and work together.