Lest United We Fall

After weeks of dealing with a growing global pandemic,
that threatened lives and our nation’s economic decline,
in Minneapolis a brutal response to a call to police,
put the death of George Floyd, in the national headlines.

The black man’s death fueled a peaceful protest,
until interlopers showed up and joined in.
Pallets of bricks soon began arriving,
and paid thugs tossed them and grinned.

Next, glass shattered and numerous fires started;
a once peaceful protest was peaceful no more.
In the madness, outrage had erased reason;
and breaking news was filled with blood and gore.

In many states, their capital cities were set a blaze,
as well-orchestrated mayhem was performed.
Headlines about the pandemic disappeared;
as media attention had ANTIFA marching on.

Businesses owned by local people paid the price,
for the actions of lawmen they didn’t even know.
Flying debris from the hands of rioters,
assured the number of victims would grow.

In seventy-two hours, forty-six cities were on fire;
suspicions were that each was planned in advance.
Rioters filled with hate and the need for revenge,
were in no mood to give peace a chance.

Army National Guard were told they weren’t wanted
by local leaders hoping the worse had passed.
With their morale broken by lack of support,
Police officers decided they’d served their last.

Many local officials cowered, letting violence rule.
by not offering words or actions to diminish the danger.
In Seattle the citizens were told to stay safe inside,
while their city fell into the hands of strangers

Donning neck scarfs like those worn by an African tribe,
career politicians anxiously took a knee for a photo op.
Racism had been of political use to them for decades,
so whenever it rears its head, they simply blame the cops.

Only the hard hearts that funded it all felt empowered.
They’re the source working to take our nation down.
It’s global governance and social slavery that awaits,
if we don’t get together and turn things around.

There are human elements, inside and out, wanting us to fail.
They’re betting there’s no chance we can resuscitate racial trust.
But it’s not a question of “perhaps”, “maybe” or “someday”;
racial harmony will come because it is time, it is wanted, and it is just!