Dear America,

I am a white woman and I will never fully understand what it means to be black. You see, I often find myself at a loss for words when it comes to these things because I have never lived it. But I have come to realize that if you do not love loudly, you silently contribute to hate. It is not enough to not be racist, we have to actively be against racism.

A lot of people are saying that the Black Lives Matter movement is political, but there is nothing political about somebody’s life. When I took the Oath of Enlistment, I swore to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I never swore to defend a political party. The Core Values of the United States Navy are Honor, Courage, and Commitment. Not only is it my personal standard, but I am contractually bound to conduct myself in the highest ethical manner. I will have the courage to do the right thing, even when it is hard. I will always strive for positive change. And I will show respect toward all people without regard to race, religion, or gender.

When I was 16 years old, I was angry that Colin Kaepernick knelt during the National Anthem. I was angry that people dishonored the flag. Now that I am older and more educated I realize that, though I may not like the way people do things, it is their First Amendment right, and I will always defend that.

There are real criminals out there and, when appropriate, police officers may climb the ladder of the use-of-force continuum. There are murderers, rapists, and abusers in this world that are still breathing. George Floyd lost his life over a twenty-dollar bill. George Floyd couldn’t breathe.

Police brutality is real. Though I would like to believe that they are the good guys, it’s not always the case. And while I believe that Blue Lives do matter, they are not the ones being oppressed. All Lives won’t matter until Black Lives do too. Do your part. Do the right thing.

I may be a white kid from Boston who blushes when challenged, but I always hold my ground. I fight for what I believe in and I fight for justice. When your voice isn’t being heard, I will fight for you too. Change is necessary, equality is demanded. I am Alexandra Camden and I stand with you.