Former President Barack Obama published a piece on Medium this week, addressing the protests nationwide following the death of George Floyd -- and, specifically, how he thinks people can move forward to "sustain momentum to bring about real change."
In it, he highlights the importance of voting and participation in the political process, especially at the state and local levels, where laws concerning criminal justice and police actions are largely formed. His words echo those that he spoke after the Sandyhook Elementary School shooting that took the lives of 20 children, all ages 6-7, along with 6 school personnel. Back then, he urged people to become “single issue voters”. Here, he not only urges this political strategy, but also points out the hope he feels seeing young people exercising their constitutional rights to protest.
Obama emphasizes that, especially in the midst of a pandemic, the next moments in American history can be a real “turning point” if we can channel our sadness and anger into peaceful and effective change.