A blog guest post from my sister, Anna Marie, and the story of her and Wlad.

We are at a crisis in America. Our method of policing has got to be examined. Some are calling to defund the police. I think it’s an emotional idea that has serious repercussions if pursued.

I’m no expert on policing or law enforcement, but I believe that the law is for the lawless and that strong leadership and collaborative teamwork is always key.

I have thought about police reform since the death of Eric Garner. The recent events have made me consider it even deeper. Here are my thoughts on it.

My Pentecostal heritage is inextricably linked to African American church history. As I watched the George Floyd funeral, it felt a lot like home.

For those who may not know, the Jesus of the Bible sought out the Samaritan (a racial group hated by Jews at that time) woman. He healed the Syrophoenician woman’s daughter. He sent Peter to a Roman centurion’s household. In essence, He went and spoke to those who were not His own race to reconcile them to Himself because He loved them equally.

We cannot be satisfied until black men no longer have to fear for their lives while living their lives. We cannot be satisfied until every man and woman are equal in the eyes of the law: that our shade of color does not make one guilty or more innocent than the other. We cannot be satisfied until white America see the divide of privilege afforded to them not by their intellect or their sagacity, but by their color and nothing else. We cannot be satisfied until we see black children who are selling lemonade not have white neighbors call law enforcement to have them stop.

So what has protesting accomplished? Within 10 days of sustained protests: Minneapolis bans use of choke holds. Charges are upgraded against Officer Chauvin, and his accomplices are arrested and charged. Dallas adopts a "duty to intervene" rule that requires officers to stop other cops who are engaging in inappropriate use of force. New Jersey’s attorney general said the state will update its use-of-force guidelines for the first time in two decades.

Sure they told me to love others, but they made holiness an action of the outside. I wish they hammered it on for the holiness on the inside. I wish they showed me Jesus beyond the cross that I shouldn’t be wearing on my neck to the cross that I should be carrying on my back.

The weight of injustice is and was heavy on our black brothers and sisters. It has gone to a boil after the death of George Floyd.

What is our response? What will we do? Inactions by those in the highest offices has led to our current state of being as a country. We are, now, facing the inactions of yesteryears.

Today we as a people have a chance for real change. Take time and consider what your next move will be.

Here are some thoughts on what we can do: