X

Opinion: Pray for police officers killed while on the job, says Colton resident

Posted 4/21/17

To the Editor: In response to "Church Commended for Black Lives Matter Banner" which appeared in the April 12-18 issue of North Country This Week: ask yourself how police officers feel when they …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Opinion: Pray for police officers killed while on the job, says Colton resident

Posted

To the Editor:

In response to "Church Commended for Black Lives Matter Banner" which appeared in the April 12-18 issue of North Country This Week: ask yourself how police officers feel when they drive by the sign as they daily risk their lives to keep the citizens of St. Lawrence County safe.

The BLM website states that "Black Lives Matter is an ideological and political intervention in a world where Black lives are systematically and intentionally targeted for demise." On July 7, 2016, during an anti-police demonstration in Dallas, BLM's ideology found its expression in a murderous intervention by Micah Xavier Johnson, who systematically and intentionally targeted five Dallas police officers.

I encourage the writer, the minister and the congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Canton to ask themselves, "Do we believe that police officers' lives matter? Do we see value in a police officer's life?" If their answer is yes, then they’re not in agreement with the values of the BLM movement.

Instead of encouraging murderers of police officers, let us residents of St. Lawrence County do our best to make sure that law enforcement officials feel appreciated and safe in the North Country. And every time we pass by the Black Lives Matter banner displayed by the congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Canton, let's say a prayer for the officers murdered while working to ensure the safety of the citizens of Dallas: Officers Lorne Ahrens, Michael Krol, Michael Smith, Brent Thompson, and Patricio "Patrick" Zamarripa.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

Kevin Beary

Colton