(Thumbnail photo by Harrison Haines from Pixels)

If you know anything about me - you know I have so much love for my hometown. The City of Good Neighbors. Buffalo, New York.

There's so much to love about it. The food, the beer, the local vendors/brands, the sports teams (#GoBills), the waterfront, the arts .... and most of all, the people. Wherever you go, you will find a smiling face that will hold a door open for you and give you a friendly hello even if you've never seen them before. It brings a smile to my face when I think about it all, especially when a Goo Goo Dolls song comes up on my phone on shuffle.

But today - I'm sad. I'm disappointed. I'm embarrassed.

During a protest yesterday at Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo, a 75 year old man was talking to some Buffalo police officers who were decked out in riot gear. Instead of talking with the man, they pushed him, and he fell to the ground and laid there while his head was bleeding.Two of the officers have been suspended without pay ... but is that enough though?

Look, I back the police when they're doing their jobs properly and fairly. As I've stated before on my blog here - I'm the daughter of a retired police officer. He's one of the greatest humans I know. He'll give you the shirt off his back, and call you kiddo (no matter if you're 25 or 45) with a smile and some sort of wink. I'm so proud to be his kid because he was one of the good ones on the job. I'll admit, I absolutely used to get so offended by people making negative comments about cops because of him and basically my uncle he worked beside for years and years, Al (another extremely kind human who is one of the most fun ones I know). Now I'm just insulted by the complete lack of care for human beings by these horrible cops out there, and the fact that they're tainting the names of good cops.

I wish I hadn't, but I've watched this video several times this morning because I just can't believe it. The 75 year old man was out trying to stand up for George Floyd and black people everywhere that have been mistreated and harmed by bad police officers, and in turn he's thrown to the ground as well.

My heart hurts for him and his family, that these protests even have to happen in the first place to bring light to the mistreatment of black people in this country, and for my city that I know is better. than. this.

Warning: Graphic video

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