Willing to be Arrested

This statement was made yesterday by the Reverend Bonnie Osei-Frimpong who represents ARISE Chicago.

People ask me why I wanted to be arrested with Occupy Chicago last October. My answer is simple. I did not want to be arrested. Jail was cold. I was hungry. I didn't have any privacy. They took my timepiece. I had no idea how long I would be there. I did not want any of that. I did not want to be arrested.

I do want a political system in America that treats the poor, the sick, the aged, and the infirm like citizens, like human beings "endowed by their Creator" with inalienable rights. I do want to live in an America, and in a great American city, that honors its commitments to its residents and treats with dignity those in its midst who will hold it to its own promises.

When the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch of the United States of America, and the municipal powers of the city of Chicago, violate the promises on which our country is built, by criminalizing the poor and funneling resources and undue influence to the wealthy, I will gather with my fellow citizens and peacefully assemble to redress my grievances.

Although I do not want to get arrested, I am, however, willing to be arrested. I am willing to be arrested to defend our right to peacefully assemble in order to redress political grievances, and to redress economic corruption, and to redress social needs. I am willing  to be arrested if that is what it takes to remind our government to concern itself with "the least of these." And I am willing to be arrested if that is the next step in a long-term plan to get corporate money out of our political system.

Sadly I cannot say that I have faith in the judicial system. The Courts have gotten it wrong in defining what constitutes a person. Why shouldn't I believe that they will get it wrong about what it means to peacefully assemble? But, I'm a faithful Christian, so I will give them a chance.

The question is not a matter of whether I wanted to get arrested. The question is a matter of what you are willing to do in defense of the "least of these." The rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer, and we can and should do better. The question isn't why I am willing to be arrested. The question should be: why aren't you?

God bless you, and God bless America