You can listen to the audio here or read the transcript below:
To my Asian American friends, I want to share a thought with you.
Today, I was thinking to myself, “How awesome, how glorious, and how just it would have been if that Asian American cop said “That’s enough!” and physically pulled that cop off George Floyd, threw him to the ground, and then tended to George and made sure he was okay — even if it cost him his job for breaking police rules and incurring the fury of other unjust police officers.
That single, righteous, and heroic act would have not only saved George’s life, but it would have also restored so many people’s faith in the police. He would have been a hero. He would certainly have been a hero in the Asian American community.
But instead, he just stood there like a coward. Instead of confronting and standing up to his unjust partner, he stood up against the powerless crowd that pleaded to save George’s life.
We Asian Americans will be put in situations that are going to be similar to the situation that this Asian American cop found himself in.
We will be there when racial injustice, big or small, happens to our black friends.
And when it does, may we not stand around as cowards and do nothing. May we have the courage and love to do what is right and just — even if it costs us.
May we never passively do nothing in the face of injustice ever again.
And lastly, if you’re an Asian American police officer, do your part. Be more loyal to justice than to your partners — especially if they are unjust. Make us proud. Be our heroes.
That’s it.
Photo Credit: Lorie Shaull