Thread by @JohnYarmuth

We still don’t know exactly what happened at 26/Broadway early yesterday. Sadly, videos released by @LMPD offer more questions than answers. But we know that the life of another Black Louisvillian ended at the hands of law enforcement. That is a tragedy. David McAtee matters. 1/x

I pray for Miss Odessa, the McAtee family, and my city — already reeling from the death of our own Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and countless Black lives ended too soon. But I know my prayers are not nearly enough. 2/x

I am a white man in America. I don't have first-hand experience facing the challenges my Black colleagues, constituents, and friends do every single day. This is a time for us to have the humility to listen and support. 3/x

Because the sad reality is that, in our country, what happened to George Floyd would never happen to me.

What happened to Breonna Taylor would never happen to my wife.

What happened to Trayvon Martin or Tamir Rice would never happen to my son. 4/x

There is an unfathomable canyon between the experiences of white and Black Americans. But it is a divide we must bridge—as soon as possible—and the responsibility is on white Americans to listen to our Black friends and neighbors and work with them to get there. 5/x

While I won’t claim to have all the answers or an instant fix to right these wrongs, there are some obvious signs staring us in the face right now, right here in our own city: 6/x

We cannot demand nonviolence from protestors without asking the same of our police. They have difficult jobs, high risk, and tremendous responsibility. To carry a badge and serve is to meet the highest of standards, and we must demand that those high standards are met. 7/x

We cannot call for the protection of property of some at the expense of basic rights of others.

And we cannot join calls of #BlackLivesMatter and then make exceptions when the practice becomes difficult. 8/x

I intend to keep listening and fighting for a day when our Black friends and neighbors can feel as safe in our community as I do.

9/9