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

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

Alleged Shooters Gavin Long and Micah Johnson and Early Media Narratives

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:

• Angry Black men that must be associated with the Black Lives Matter movement.

There have been many agendas that have wrongly accused Black Lives Matter organization as a terrorist group. What’s funny about that sentiment is, Black Lives Matter was started by non-threatening Black women. I knew right away after the shooting happened the association with Black Lives Matter would almost certainly happen.

Misplaced Blame on the Black Lives Matter Movement

I find it striking that people automatically pin the recent police shootings on a group that has only engaged in peaceful protest, just as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did in the sixties. To me, it sounds like a cry. Particularly for politicians, to pic 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.

The Overlooked Fact: Both Men Were Military Veterans

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, served as a Marine and received an honorable discharge. He later became an entrepreneur and podcaster, hosting 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

Media Narratives and Missing Context about Gavin Long and 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.

The Missing Discussion: Mental Health and Racism

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.”

A Call for Honest Dialogue

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.