Tensions are high across the nation as Americans of all races rise in protest against the killings of Black people by the police and other vigilantes .
In recent days protesters have gathered in cities across the country braving threats of serious illness and/or death from the still present COVID-19 virus, in an overwhelming call for justice and an end to how police perpetrate violence against people of color, especially African-Americans.
Despite recent years of declining violent crime; despite the country being on lock down for more than two months and the crime rate declining even more—the number of questionable deaths of Black men and women at the hands of the country’s police has remained on pace with 2019.
In recent weeks, the media has covered the senseless deaths of Black people at the hands of police even as the nation sheltered in place and more than 100,000 souls are dead from COVID-19—people of color have succumbed to the virus in numbers far disproportionate to their share of the population.
In states across the country including California, New York and others there are video recordings of police acting badly including an incident in New York where an officer drove his vehicle directly into a crowd, in Los Angeles where rubber bullets were shot at a group of peaceful protesters, and in at least three separate incidents in recent days the police have intentionally targeted the media.