After George Floyd’s death, who was a police brutality victim, things have been quite tense around the country with protests breaking out in various states followed by fights between the police and protesters, which have even lead to more deaths.
As the circle of violence doesn’t seem to come to an end, there is more and more need for understanding, mutual respect and solidarity among people fighting for what should be self-evident: that people have the right to walk the street without fear of being arrested or, even worse, killed just because of their skin color.
Unfortunately, protests in many cases have not been peaceful, but they have been associated with looting, destroying local businesses, and causing chaos. And this is something police officers are trying to prevent by being present during the demonstrations.
While some troopers in certain towns have chosen to join the protesters, and others have chosen to kneel as a means of standing in solidarity with victims and those who fight for justice to be served for their deaths, there have been others who have preferred to not be personally involved.
Like a black trooper in Georgia, who was present in the demonstrations of last week and had an argument with protesters.
It seems that a group of people who were protesting against police violence and racism asked the man to kneel as an indication of respect and solidarity with them. But the officer was not willing to do it and explained why.
In a video that was shared on social media that soon went viral, state trooper, later identified as O’Neal Saddler, can be seen explaining to the people who asked him to kneel that he does respect them and their movement and that he would not be there if he didn’t.
In fact, Saddler was supposed to be out of town for the weekend, but he chose to be out there instead, in order to ensure those people’s wellbeing.
“I took off today, this weekend, but I’m out here just to make sure y’all are safe. Don’t go there with respect, OK?” he can be heard saying.
And then he goes on to add that there’s only one person he kneels for and that’s God.
“I have much respect, but I only kneel for one person. God,” he concluded.
According to the NY Post, the officer wrote in a Facebook post on May 30 that, although protests are welcome, looting and “acting a fool” is not. He went on to thank his fellow officers who dealt with people who, in the name of justice, destroyed public and private property, while he highlighted the fact that there are indeed good cops and bad cops.
The video of the man’s response has gone viral with Twitter users having contradictory opinions on the situation.
“This is the kind of officer we need nation wide, much to respect this man,” someone wrote, while someone else commented: “Damn, Americans love their jesus…mind boggling, hilarious and sad all at once…”
In any case, it is clear that the officer did not mean to offend the protesters or show disrespect for the victims, but he rather chose to do what his heart said.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
This is Georgia State Trooper O’Neal Saddler.
He was asked to kneel today, and this was his response.
God Bless him! 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/DZOGg6qnFn
— Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) June 7, 2020