WHY I Am Shaken to The Core of My Being

I haven’t really been sure how to comprehend the events of these past weeks. I have been going to the protests and vigils. I am trying to understand how we let this happen. I want to know what is going to change so that this doesn’t happen again. The shooting of Philando Castile has really hit close to home, both geographically and emotionally. I live in Falcon Heights, I drive by where he was shot routinely. I am reminded that nowhere is safe from shootings whether it be by police, gangs, or anybody else.  I have grown up in a primarily white family, neighborhood, communities. I have been privileged to grow up without having to worry about my needs not getting met. I have lived comfortably. But, I am also not white. I am Asian American. I am a person of color. I could be discriminated against because of my skin color. I could get pulled over by an officer who is racial profiling. I along with other people of color have that risk, especially our African American brothers and sisters. I also want to say that I am a person who has grown up with trust in the police and our justice society. I am grateful to the men and women who serve as police, firefighters, first responders, nurses and doctors. I stand with police. I stand with people of color. I stand for justice. I stand for peace. I stand with people of color. I stand with my white friends who are in this fight with me. I stand in honor of the children who’ve lost their lives due to violence, particularly by guns. I stand in honor of Alton Sterling. I stand in honor of Philando Castile. I stand in honor of the Dallas police who died protecting other people. I stand in honor of all of those who have lost their life because of their race and for those will lose their life. I stand in honor of all those affected by gun violence, especially our children.