Distractions are easily accessible. During the ongoing protests, it’s convenient to hide in our distractions and wait for things to pass. Some even shift focus away from protests’ purpose. People don’t protest for a political agenda. They protest for a far more important agenda: for the lives of black people to be valued, which includes holding racists accountable.

You may say, “I do treat people of color fairly.” That should be the default. But America’s racism goes beyond individual prejudice. There exists a habit of not holding racists accountable.

Scattered arrests won’t heal centuries of pain inflicted by a nation determined to marginalize our black population. When racists aren’t held accountable, it shows us they don’t care about the lives of black people.

We can’t let conspiracies and commentary distract us. We can’t retreat and wait it out. With that attitude, racists will simply keep lynching without repercussions.

Aaron Schmelzer

Austin, Texas

The writer is a Cranberry Township native.

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