A Guest Opinion Piece by Chiffon Dior | Tonight—Saturday, May 30, 2020—as the country continues to tear itself asunder to protest against continuous violence by the police against the black community, the United States finds itself without a president. I mean technically, he is still the president—and yet he has only managed to fan the flames of hatred and boast about the security of the White House in the face of protesters at his gate.

I assume comments about dogs and weapons are because he fears being dragged out of the house by protesters. The fact that he has had neither the courage nor the empathy to address the nation at this unprecedented moment might be the most egregious dereliction of duty for a man that has failed every test our highest office has presented.

What is happening across the country right now NEEDS to happen. The events of the past few days are scary and they’re uncomfortable, but this country needs to take a long hard look at what we have become and what we have always been. People need to stop spouting hollow “All Lives Matter” rhetoric and finally learn what Black Lives Matter truly means.

The police cannot continue to treat the entire African American community like they are unwanted and dangerous criminals in their own country, simply because they exist. George Floyd needs to be the end of this pandemic of hate that infiltrates every layer of our society. These protests need to be the turning point for this country, unless we want to continue this endless cycle of hate in perpetuity.

This pandemic of hate needs to finally come to an end.

This country doesn’t just belong to rich old white men. It belongs to each and every one of us, and each and every one of our lives needs to be valued and respected. Dr. King once said, “We all came in on different ships, but we’re all in the same boat now.” His words ring as true today as ever, only now our boat is on fire and sinking fast. Things need change, and there needs to be massive change now. However, the president is yet again lacking at this moment.

Therefore, I am calling for our major news outlets to make time available for our four other living presidents, Obama, Bush, Clinton and Carter, to address the nation remotely but jointly—not as members of their respective parties, but as Americans, as we try to hold our union together at this crucial moment in our history.

As the current occupant of the Oval Office deems the American people not worthy of his time right now, turning to our former leadership for comfort, honesty, and guidance at this time is needed. While these four men do not wield the powers of presidency any more, they have all stood before the country and provided solace in trying times. Tonight I am calling upon their familiar faces to do so again. They cannot remain on the sidelines any longer. Things are too dire.

To everyone out there on the streets right now fighting for what you believe in, you are so brave for standing up to be counted at this vital juncture. Please stay safe, and look out for your friends and for your fellow human beings. We are all praying and hoping for your safety in the midst of the chaos—but more importantly, we are hoping for your actions to have meaning, and for these protests to not be a sacrifice in vain. We all must come together to truly “form a more perfect union,” because establishing justice can no longer wait. For the black community, it’s been far too long already.

NOTE: This Op-ed is reprinted from its original posting on the website of our valued content partner, werrrk.com. The author, Chiffon Dior, is its founder and editor. To see more work by Fibonacci Blue, whose photo appears atop this Op-ed, click here.

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