Flanked by a group of children from the North Carolina Prince Hall Mason Youth Assembly in Raleigh, the president of the state's NAACP spoke poignantly Friday morning about the recent deaths of two black men and five police officers thousands of miles away.
The Rev. William Barber told the crowd it’s possible to have deep concern, hurt and outrage for victims of all three shootings.
"I've tried for the last three days to find sane words to explain insanity," Barber said. "Rather than love and humanity, we’re seeing hate and inhumanity and death; violence and death and terrorism."
On Tuesday, Alton Sterling, 37, was shot by police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The following day, Philando Castile, 32, was shot and killed in suburban St. Paul, Minnesota. And late Thursday night, a coordinated sniper attack in Dallaskilled five police officers during a peaceful rally to protest the recent shootings of black men.
Barber said cell phone videos of all three incidents posted and shared broadly over social media are helping more people see racial injustices that exist in the United States.
"When blood is streaming over the Internet, and blood is crying from the asphalt and crying from car seats, and crying from the ground…we must choose to do better," Barber said. "We must choose to be more human. We must choose to be more just and more loving and we surely must choose to be more sane."
Elijah Bazemore, Grand Knight Director of Piedmont and Western Region of The Prince Hall Masons, helped organize the youth conference and said the recent incidents are traumatizing for children.
"We as a society don’t know how to embrace what’s going on in terms of providing that therapy, providing that nurturing to help them understand what it is we are experiencing right now," Bazemore said.
Barber, who said he’s received death threats over the years, said issues of police brutality, racial disparities and the criminal justice system must not continue to be swept under the rug. He also defended police officers and expressed support and comfort to the families of the officers killed in Dallas, as well as the families of Castile and Sterling.
"Whether it’s the violence and police terror by those who misuse the badge, or the violence and terror against those who wear the badge and are doing their sworn duty, it is wrong. And violence will only beget more violence," he said.
"Even if we can’t fix it all, shouldn’t our children see us at least trying to fix it?" he added.
Vigils planned this weekend around North Carolina
Vigil for Justice in Policing, Moore Square, 200 S Blount St, Raleigh. Fri. 7/8, 6:30 p.m. Vigil to be followed by a community action planning discussion led by Policy Matters NC and the Justice or Else Movement.
Black Lives Matter Vigil, Bronze Bull Statue, downtown Durham. Fri. 7/8, 6:30 p.m. Solidarity vigil for Alton Sterling and Philando Castile.
Community Forum on the Black Experience with Law Enforcement in America, International Civil Rights Museum, Greensboro. Sat. 7/9, 4 p.m. A community conversation to discuss issues of police brutality, action items and a brainstorming opportunity.
March For Our Freedom, Downtown Winston Salem. Sat/ 7/9, 3:30 p.m. Vigil and peaceful march through the city's downtown.
Black Out Durham Vigil, Market Street, Durham. Sun. 7/10, 7:30 p.m. Vigil planned by the Black Out Durham movement for justice in the black community.
Peaceful March Downtown "Hold My Hand Brothers," Festival Park, 335 Ray Ave., Fayetteville. Sat. 7/30, 8 p.m. Peaceful protest in solidarity of recent police-involved shootings.
