Four years ago there was a mass shooting in Charleston, South Carolina in Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church where a man entered during a bible study and opened fire with a semi-automatic weapon and killed 9 people. This act of hatred shook our country. It was revealed quickly that this man was part of white supremacy and specifically targeted that church because it was a predominately black patronage.
This country has seen unspeakable terrors in places of worship, schools, malls, movie theaters, concerts, festivals, markets, and the list goes on. This domestic terrorism has become so common place it’s scary. We are so divisive right now with a President that has fueled hate groups to act on their beliefs by these public executions.
People Spread Love began in response to that shooting in Charleston. The community responded with great compassion. Since 2015 this country has had seventy-six mass shootings. Seventy-six. 76!
Last week there was a shooting in Gilroy, California. And then two more shootings happened last weekend, one in El Paso, Texas and another in Dayton, Ohio. This shakes us to our core because we are all connected. PSL advocates to bring that to light because it’s an important message we have forgotten. Our connection to one another, our importance to one another, our responsibility to one another is vitally important. Separation is an illusion that instills fear and hatred.
What can we do to help stop this from happening again? Shortly after each of these shootings we grieve, we are angered and energized for change and then time passes by and we ultimately move on. I don’t want to move on. I want to be part of a community that lifts other’s spirits. I want to show appreciation to regular and extraordinary people. We are all craving that human connection. Connection is the opposite of divisiveness and now is the time to come together and reconnect.
We need to love one another. When tragedy hits you do see that expressed. Let’s do this all the time because we are capable. These acts of hate are appalling and need more than just policy changes. We need fundamental humanity change.