More to learn about fear of police

This is in response to Bill Blaine’s comments on Sept. 19 asking “Why run?”

Mr. Blaine, as a white female and a member of the CARE team (Committee for Anti-Racism and Equity) at my church, we take the time to understand your question and questions like it. So I do appreciate this opportunity to respond to a good question regarding a very serious issue.

Why do Michael Brown, George Floyd and other Black and Brown people run when in contact with the police?

I have learned that multiple factors rooted in generations of systemic racism, bias and discrimination contribute to why Black people run from police. For many, fleeing is not an admission of guilt but a response to a long history of negative and potentially dangerous interactions with law enforcement. There continues to be a climate of mistrust due to racial profiling and unwarranted harassment and the targeting of Black males (in particular) by police.

Have you ever heard of “Driving While Black”? It is a sardonic phrase used when police pull over a driver simply because they are black. Imagine that.

I have learned that many parents have “the talk” with their children of color about how to act if they are pulled over by police (or even just walking down the street). That is not “the talk” that I had with my white children, because quite frankly, I didn’t need to.

Mr. Blaine and others, I encourage you to do a deeper dive on this issue. There is so more to learn. I think we can all try to understand better what it is like to walk in somebody else’s skin.

Mary Kovatch

Libertyville