It’s just sad what’s happening in the United States right now. As if Donald Trump gaining legitimate traction as a potential president wasn’t enough, the streets across various cities are awash with despair, fear and anger over the systemic injustice and brutality faced by black people from law enforcement officers.
With two of the most recent and horrifying incidents having gone viral thanks to social media, the support for activist movement Black Lives Matter is never as crucially needed as it was before. The matter of widespread racial prejudice against African-Americans by the police may not necessarily affect us here in Singapore, but it’s an issue that deserves advocation, nonetheless.
At Hong Lim Park on the evening of July 14, there’ll be a candlelight vigil to honour the numerous lives lost to police brutality over the years.
“This is not a racial demonstration, we are coming together to support the black community and to spread love,” the organisers wrote in their Facebook event page. “We are holding this vigil to honour the lives lost.”
Sadly, American citizens can’t participate in the vigil. The law says that only Singaporeans and Permanent Residents may attend demonstrations, protests or events held at Speakers’ Corner.
Let’s hope there’ll be a spontaneous burst of song into Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright”.
