I find that people want aggressive policing if they as a community feel they are part of it. They don't want aggressive policing if they feel it's being imposed upon them and they are a target.
Whether it is tribalism, racism, xenophobia, or anti-Muslim backlash we're talking about, we spend so much time and energy fighting ways to divide ourselves from others.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the detrimental effects of division among people, highlighting societal issues like racism and xenophobia.
Loretta Lynch's quote sheds light on the tendency of societies to focus on the negative ways in which they can separate themselves from one another, rather than seeking unity. It points out how energy and resources are often misallocated to fight against different forms of hatred, such as tribalism, racism, and xenophobia, ultimately suggesting that a more productive approach would be to foster understanding and connection among diverse groups.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a community meeting focused on social justice, this quote could be shared to encourage dialogue about inclusivity.
More from Loretta Lynch
All quotes βWhat we must not do - what we must never do - is turn on our neighbors, our family members, our fellow Americans, for something they cannot control, and deny what makes them human.
Almost one in three Americans has had some contact with the criminal justice system. When you reach that saturation point, people begin to understand, in a very visceral way, the difficulties of reentry.
Often, we do not know where our choices will take us. This is why the best choices are often made based not on what they can bring to us, but what they will allow us to bring to others.
What I have realized is I cannot guarantee the absence of discrimination or hatred or prejudice, but I can guarantee the presence of justice.
The power to arrest - to deprive a citizen of liberty - must be used fairly, responsibly, and without bias.
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