A police encounter, thoughts on racism


I had a surreal experience this morning. Bonnie and I left Joshua Tree NP in our pickup, towing the trailer. We were following routing directions on my phone. Skipping lots of details, we somehow strayed onto a US Marine Base still following the phone's route.
Suddenly we were surrounded by police cars with sirens blaring and lights flashing. A voice on a bullhorn ordered me to get out of the truck with my hands up. As I did and glanced around, I was stunned to see that there were at least ten officers surrounding the area, crouching, with drawn guns POINTED AT ME!! I quickly went from surprised to terrified. I knew I had nothing to hide, but I also knew mistakes can happen in situations like this.
The voice in the bullhorn instructed me to keep my hands on top of my head, walk away from the truck, and eventually to kneel on the pavement. I slowly and carefully followed instructions as accurately as I could. An officer approached me from behind and handcuffed my wrists tightly behind my back.
While one officer held my hands firmly, my pockets were emptied and I was given a VERY thorough patdown. Then I went through several different interrogations.
Meanwhile Bonnie had also been handcuffed (somewhat more gently), taken in a different direction, and similarly interviewed.
After 15 or 20 minutes, when our two stories agreed and the police decided we really were naïve tourists who had no idea we were doing something wrong, we were uncuffed. After they asked more questions and gathered more info for their report, we were escorted off the base and sent on our way with just an hour delay and some HUGE sighs of relief.
We fully understand why we were treated this way. Sadly, in today's world, there was no way for them to be sure that these trespassers into a secure military area didn't have a camp trailer full of explosives, with intent of disruption and destruction.
But Bonnie and I had to wonder how these events might have unfolded differently if instead of being a grey-haired Caucasian, I were Black, Arab, Hispanic, Native American, Polynesian, or Asian. Could one of the officers have been a little less restrained with their trigger finger? Could we have been detained for an extended period? Could our interaction have been much less respectful? Could I have ended up with my face on the pavement instead of just my knees, someone kneeling on my neck?
I am saddened to realize we live in a world where the bad behavior of a few have impacted all of us, requiring us to be suspicious and cautious, taking away freedoms.
I am more saddened to realize that racism has exacerbated the challenges for so many. I have only rarely been in the situation of being a minority - there have been a few times in foreign settings when we have been impacted by anti-American sentiments. But many of my non-caucasian friends here have shared their hard experiences and emotions.
But yet, I #GiveThanks for a growing awareness in my own mind, and in our society, of the horrible legacy of racism that has plagued civilization for many centuries. Awareness and acknowledgement are the beginning of correction and elimination, replacing prejudice with love, with "liberty and justice for all." Today has been a sobering step in my own awareness.
And I #GiveThanks for another day, another chance, another lesson learned!

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