GalWithGloves

I was inspired to create this motto in response to the sprouting up of police support signs in the white-flight suburbs of Kettering, & Oakwood, Ohio. The racist motivation behind the signs is quite clear, as much as they may refuse it, deflect it, or attempt to excuse it. It is known that many in the area were motivated to purchase those signs due to the so-called “police hate” resulting from the protests for Black Lives and equality that have taken place across this country. Well, two can play at that game. Public service is a JOB. A job. Clock in, clock out. A position with duties, perhaps a uniform. At the very least, a dress code. Supervisors. Management. Essentially, the usual trope against Black Lives Matter is that “all lives matter.” So my response to the racist “we support the police” signs is that “all public service jobs matter” but again, through the wording that every public service job counts. Public service is public tax dollars at work. Doesn’t every dollar count? Cops always get credit. But what about the other agencies & departments, the many essential workers keeping the community running smoothly? Oh, but cops protect us, eh? What about the people working in public sanitation & solid waste? Do you think they aren’t protecting you too? Oh, but cops get yelled at and have to deal with unreasonable people, angry people, etc. & so forth? There are so many public servants in various offices & agencies who, in the course of a workday, handle & speak with angry citizens, recipients, clients, etc. They often are held accountable if something improper is done in terms of casework, eligibility, or any number of things impacting the public. This is intended as a form of Good Trouble, as coined by the late American statesman & civil rights leader John Lewis. Proceeds from the sale of items will be donated to a local Dayton/Miami Valley Area organization that is centered on Black Lives.