I was watching “The Kelly File” on Fox News several nights ago when Megyn Kelly had a segment about the “Black Lives Matter” movement. 

She focused in part on an African-American grandmother, Peggy Hubbard, who lost her 9-year-old granddaughter to black-on-black violence.  Ms. Hubbard was deeply hurt, and she was on Facebook basically saying that our concerns are not with the police, but with each other.

Ms. Kelly also interviewed Dr. Cornel West.  She asked him why the “Black Lives Matter” movement has sprung up to protest and vocally oppose police brutality, but has had little to say about black-on-black crime.

In his view, “state-sponsored violence versus individual violence are two different things.”

He has a point.

A police officer who unlawfully beats or kills a child or an unarmed citizen is no different than a thug or a gang member in the streets.

But our justice system may allow that police officer to go on with life as if nothing ever happened. 

Meanwhile, a citizen who kills another citizen gets arrested. Rightfully so. But it should be rightfully so for the police officer.

The reason for the outrage is the difference in the consequences. The protests were prompted by the lack of consequences for the actions of police officers. They want to see the arrest of police officers when they commit a crime just as they want an arrest of any other citizen involved in hurting someone or taking a life.

Still, there should be an outcry against black-on-black violence. It is long overdue. The situation is heartbreaking. We must come together in an effort to reduce violence and crime in our community. 

We can fight black-on-black crime and police brutality. There is no need to leave one behind just to address the other. All black lives matter. 

To those who represent us in the media: Try to do a better job articulating the point.

What’s the point? The point is simply justice for all.

S.J. ANDERSON

Mechanicsville