Protesters’ lesson is lost

The motive for football player Colin Kaepernick and the subsequent protesting by others to spotlight the increasing number of killings by law enforcement of unarmed black men, women and children without any accountability has been lost on America.

Whenever black people stand up for our constitutional rights, it’s always seen somehow as a diminishment toward the rights of whites.

Now before you “good people” drag out the “what about blackon-black crime,” let me explain the difference. When a black person kills someone, regardless of the circumstances, whether the victim is black or not, that person is arrested, goes to trial, is convicted and is sentenced to prison. When law enforcers, who are there to “Protect and Serve” all communities equally and professionally, kill an unarmed black person, there seldom is an arrest, or trial. But if there is, usually no one is convicted, and we are left to mourn, yet again without any justice.

The charge that Kaepernick or any other protesting player is disrespecting the national anthem, flag or members of the armed forces is misguided. When I served, I took pride in knowing that my sacrifice and service enabled Americans to freely express their constitutional rights, including peaceful protests. The need for this protest wouldn’t exist if people got as “passionate” about the black lives we’ve see taken almost daily on TV and Youtube by the very institution that should protect us, as they do for a symbol. Our black lives matter too.

Vanessa Rivers, North Las Vegas