Gavin Long and Micah Johnson were veterans not affiliated with the Black Lives Matter Movement

Gavin Long and Micah Johnson are the alleged shooters of the tragedy in Baton Rouge, LA and in Dallas during a protest. Long is alleged to have carried out the shooting in Baton Rouge and Johnson in Dallas.

Officials do not have any motives yet as to why the two allegedly carried out the crime. But that didn’t stop media outlets painting a picture of angry Black men that must be associated with the Black Lives Matter movement.

There have been many agendas to promote the Black Lives Matter movement as a terrorist group,  which is far from their existence. What’s funny about that sentiment is, Black Lives Matter was started by non-threatening Black women. But I knew right away after the shooting happened and saw the alleged shooters were “brothas”, the association with Black Lives Matter would almost certainly happen.

I find it quite interesting that a group that has only peacefully protested like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did in the sixties for equal rights, is automatically being pinned to the recent police shootings. To me, it sounds like a cry, particularly for politicians, to point out a scapegoat to an issue that has already existed.

The hashtag #blacklivesmatter did not foster any emotions or anger about injustices within the system that has already existed. If anything, the hashtag has started a nationwide conversation on the unfair practices and biases within our country’s system. The Black Lives Matter movement has not in any way prompted a new world order to kill police officers.

While I see many outlets pointing out that the two men were Black, many failed to add an important fact about both Johnson and Long. They were both military veterans.

Micah Johnson was a 25-year-old Texan whose career ended abruptly by an incident while in Afghanistan.

Gavin Long, a 29-year-old from Kansas City, MO, was a former marine that was honorably discharged. He later became an entrepreneur and podcaster having a show called Conversations with Cosmos.

Neither of them claimed to be a part of the Black Lives Matter movement. In fact, days before Long allegedly carried out the shooting against the six officers in Baton Rouge, he sent an email to Dr. Boyce Watkins:

“I just want everyone to know that if anything may happen to me or with me, I am NOT affiliated with anybody, any group, nationality, association, religion, corporation, business, etc.

Yes I am apart of many, groups, businesses, and even a different nationality (Sovereign) but I am not affiliated. I Just want to make this crystal clear. I have no affiliations to no one, I think my own thoughts and make my own decisions. I am influenced & directed internally NOT externally.”

Long left cryptic messages in his videos before the shooting but he wanted his message clear that he acted alone.

Micah Johnson

There is few information about Johnson except for a post from his sister voicing her frustrations over attacks towards her brother and family before she later deleted the posts. There isn’t a Facebook for Micah but yet somehow they obtained a picture of him. Many outlets, are too, claiming he too was a part of the Black Lives Matter movement.

To simply associate Micah Johnson and Gavin Long with the Black Lives Matter movement because they were against systemic racism and bad policing, standing for justice, wearing a dashiki, and throwing their fist up, shows the painstaking reminder of how America is afraid to talk about race relations. America is ready to point a finger, but not ready to have a conversation.

To dig deeper, mainstream media failed to look at the mental health issues that ARE IN FACT associated with those who have served in the military, especially those who served overseas. If you are going to attribute mental illness to murderers like Dylann Roof, James Holmes, and Adam Lanza for committing those crimes, then why not do the same for black and brown people who suffer from mental illness at the same rates their white counterparts? We need to look at how perceived racism can cause mental health illness.

We need to have conversations on why people are marching and rallying, not trying to dissect two men who in fact are a product of America’s racism. To put it lightly.

As Shaun King said
“Somehow, the United States of America wants to have all of the ingredients for murder and mayhem, cook it at 500 degrees for a few years, and be shocked when what comes out on the other end isn’t sweet peace and colorful rainbows.”

It is never okay to carry out violence against anyone for whatever reason. None. It is violence like this that always affects innocent people. Hence, the two recent police shootings should be a reminder that we need to have a serious talk about race and policing in this country. Not pointing fingers.