Any person of color around the US at this time, given the tension between cops and black people around the country in the wake of George Floyd’s death, would have felt uncomfortable if they were approached by a police officer.
Indeed, this is how Jason Jones and his girlfriend felt a few days ago, when, while they were sitting and enjoying themselves on the grass in Massachusetts, they were approached by a white police officer.
It was only a matter of seconds before they knew, but it was enough for them to wonder what they had done wrong, whether they had provoked him in some way and, anyway, why he was coming towards them.
And then, Officer Bill with the Beverly Police Department got close enough to be heard by the couple when he greeted them.
This officer just approached me and my girlfriend while we were sitting on the beach and he took time out of his day to tell us he’s here for us. S/o to officer Bill @BeverlyPD pic.twitter.com/yaF7x01kgx
— J.Jones🎒™ (@YouAintReady_) June 2, 2020
Right, the officer just wanted to say hi to them and take a moment to listen to what they had to say, how they felt about the current situation.
“I just want to say hi,” Officer Bill said. “Obviously it sucks out there but, you know, I won’t let you down, and there’s a lot of us out there that are here for you.”
Jones wanted to make sure that the special moment they shared would not be forgotten, so he filmed it and later on posted it on his Twitter account. The video has gone viral since then and it has attracted lots of attention for all the good reasons.
Even Beverly Police Chief, John LeLacheur, responded to it, explaining how this is the kind of attitude that is expected from officers, adding that instead of racism, it is bonds that should be built among people.
“This is how we ask our officers to act everyday with every citizen,” Chief LeLacheur wrote in his comment. “Thank you for posting this; Racism m[u]st stop and bonds must be built.”
In an interview Jones had with CBS Boston, he highlighted the need to reassure people of color that cops are not their enemies and that they have their best interest in mind as well as their wellbeing.
“As a person of color and a minority in society, to have reassurance that there are officers who care about us and have our wellbeing and best interest is very important for me to know,” Jason shared.
He also emphasized the fact that, today, more than ever, times call for collaboration regardless of color and race, in order to create a better, safer world for everyone.
“This is the time we need to come together as a world, regardless of race or ethnicity,” Jason reflected. “We need to come together as people and support the movement.”
Jason hopes that his values and ideas will be instilled to the younger generations and this is what he’s trying to do as he coaches a young men’s basketball team in Brighton. He wants to make sure his young players will grow up envisioning a better future, with more listeners than speakers, where nobody is redundant and everyone’s life and opinion matters.
Officer Bill, and many others like him, are examples to follow and their actions should be made public in order to inspire others to do the same.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
