Honoring those lives

Let’s honor the 620,000 lives lost in the Civil War and avoid a second one.

As I have been grieving about the events following the horrific murder of

George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, a number keeps coming to mind — 620,000. That is the estimated number of lives (black and white) that were lost in the American Civil War (1861-1865) that resulted in the abolition of slavery.

Think of the millions of Americans who had loved ones lose their lives so that enslaved Americans would gain their freedom. The chaos following the Floyd murder has put all Americans at risk of going through a second civil war. We can’t let that happen.

The four officers charged in connection with Floyd’s murder must be brought to justice. We are a nation of laws, and the laws must be enforced. The officer who slowly watched a handcuffed victim suffocate committed murder, and his colleagues who stood by and did nothing to stop him were complicit in that murder. We should all expect better from our law enforcement officers. However, here are some of the chaotic consequences that have followed the Floyd murder:

• Businesses that had nothing to do with the murder have been looted and vandalized.

• Minority communities have been burned to the ground.

• Cities have called for dismantling the police agencies that protect our most vulnerable.

• Law enforcement officers have been injured and gunned down in the performance of their duties.

Freedom-loving Americans are not as divided as the media would indicate. We are unified in wanting communities to be safe and all of our people to have a chance at the American Dream. May we turn to God and remember the 620,000 who gave their lives in the name of freedom.

Heidi Haynes

Lancaster