Wow. How beautiful, touching and amazing that this crossing of paths occurred 5 days ago in a Thai restaurant in DC's Union Station. Bernie said Sandra Bland's name again two days ago in front of 15 million viewers.
This story comes from a blog by Hannah Adair Bonner who was in that restaurant, apparently also with Sandra Bland's sister Shante and Sandra Bland's mother Ms. Geneva Reed-Veal.
Hannah's words:
Bringing Ms. Geneva back over to the table, I felt my body trembling. The trembling continued as Ms. Geneva sat down next to Senator Sanders and they began to talk. I was not trembling out of fear or out of being star-struck, it was more that I was completely blown away by the unexpectedness of it all, the sacredness of the moment, and the sincerity of all involved. You do not often get to witness moments like that. Moments when agendas are laid aside and people who might not otherwise ever have the chance to connect without cameras watching can simply honor one another’s pain and humanity.
Bernie at the table now with Sandra Bland's mother and sister:
“What happened to your daughter is inexcusable,” he said. “We are broken, and this has exposed us.” He then continued by promising that he would continue to #SayHerName #SandraBland and would not give up in the pursuit of justice.Hannah speaking to Bernie's decency:
We asked Senator Sanders if we could take a picture with him and he consented. He did not impose upon Ms. Geneva to ask for a picture of his own. He did not use the moment as an opportunity to promote his campaign. He took no record, he made no statement. He did not try to turn it into a publicity stunt. He simply made space for a sacred moment, and then let it pass without trying to gain anything from it.Hannah was deeply touched by the serendipity and grace of the meeting of these people:
When each sacred moment appears and passes, it gives me renewed hope and confidence that the legacy of Sandra Bland’s struggle for justice is making it’s eternal mark in this world.May we remember Sandra Bland, Eric Garner, Freddie Gray, Tamir Rice, and all the others lost at the hands of an injust system.Senator Sanders was right. Her death was inexcusable; yet her legacy moves forward without yielding.
And thanks again to Bernie for keeping Sandra's legacy alive by saying her name at the debates, for 15 million to hear and to be reminded of all the work we must accomplish in the days ahead.