A group of clergy members wanted to change the conversation when they heard that a Florida police department was using mug shots of young black men as targets for shooting practice.
“#UseMeInstead,” the religious leaders said, tweeting photos of themselves in hopes that their solidarity would cause cops to “think twice” before pulling the trigger.
But the well-intentioned hashtag is provoking mixed responses.
It wasn’t long before Broderick Greer, a 24-year-old student at Virginia Theological Seminary, noticed something about the pictures showing up under #UseMeInstead.
Most of the participants were white.
“I’m conflicted. I have so many wonderful white clergy friends involved in that hashtag,” Greer told HuffPost. “But it’s fallen into a ‘white savior’ narrative, that these white clergy have come to the aid of these helpless black people. And I don’t think that’s what we’re trying to promote.
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— Bruce Reyes-Chow (@breyeschow) January 18, 2015
Astonished @myNMBPolice use photos for targets. You do know you’re supposed to uphold the law, right? #usemeinstead pic.twitter.com/DViLN9cxng
— Graeme Fancourt (@graemefancourt) January 18, 2015
.@myNMBPolice You have a difficult job. Just like clergy, you are not above reproach. #usemeinstead pic.twitter.com/nooqRvdm08
— Sean (@FrSeanFerrell) January 18, 2015
