It is likely that the last words Porter Burke heard were “We’re here to help you man. Whatever you want, we can help you with. We can get you home.” Then another voice says, “But right now we need you to drop the knife.” After these words, Mr. Burke moved quickly and shots rang out. In the space of 3 seconds 38 shots were fired by 5 police officers. At least 15 of them hit Mr. Burke. He was taken to Sinai Grace Hospital and pronounced dead.

Since the end of WWII, the United States has built the largest military power on the globe. Military spending enjoys widespread support from Democrats and Republicans. With the attack on the World Trade Center and the following decades of war, military spending has accelerated. A state of permanent war mentality grips much of the country.

The specter of nuclear war is haunting us. Vladimir Putin’s recent speech made clear his willingness to consider the use of nuclear weapons. As he insisted that the invasion of Ukraine was in defense of Russian sovereignty, he declared, “If the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal to protect Russia and our people.” He emphasized, “This is not a bluff.”

For the first time in many years, money is flowing into Detroit. New projects, from parks to the reconstruction of what is now I-375 is underway. And real estate developers, Stephen Ross and the Ilitch family are offering yet another idea for redeveloping the area around Little Caesar Arena. They are proposing a new hotel at the cost of $190 million.

Graduation time in Detroit is filled with joy. It is a time of personal accomplishment and public celebration. High school and college grads walk around sporting their new robes, flat hats at jaunty angles. Yard signs offer individual congratulations, often picturing the grad and naming the school and year. Families, friends and neighbors gather to celebrate. This is the first time since the beginning of the pandemic that people have been able to come together.

Over this last week Congress convened hearings into the Jan 6 insurrection. Earlier, the House passed sweeping gun control legislation after riveting testimony by victims of violence. Most commentators agree that these actions, taken mostly by Democrats with a few notable, courageous Republican exceptions like Liz Cheney, will not amount to much. It is now commonplace to view the political landscape as intensely polarized, with little chance of moving people from rigid, ideological positions. Among the many tragedies of the overwhelming violence, grief, and isolation of these last few years is a growing cynicism and despair. Many of us are beginning to think that the possibilities of moving toward a more just, life sustaining culture is impossible.

Across the country, in countless ways, people are reckoning with the truth of violence in our land. For the first time in our history, the majority of people can no longer pretend that they do not know the depth of brutality that is routinely required to protect an ever smaller number of white, privileged, powerful people.

Almost everyone I know is filled with a deepening sense of grief. After watching the daily brutality of war in Ukraine, we were still stunned when thirteen people in Buffalo were shot by a young man who opened fire in a supermarket. Ten of the victims died. Eleven of the victims were African Americans. The shooter, a young, white man, was motivated by a hate filled, white supremist ideology.  Within days, another young man walked into an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, killing 19 children and two teachers. The bloodshed in Ukraine seems to be fading  from public consciousness as the bloodshed at home overwhelms us.

The Coalition for Police Transparency and Accountability (CPTA) indicted the Detroit Police Department (DPD) for what the coalition identified as “a pattern of killings and excessive force.” The group of 20 community organizations selected the 97th Birthday of Malcolm X to call upon the federal Department of Justice to investigate the practices of DPD. The decision to ask for a federal investigation came after the Coalition concluded that all the mechanisms established by the city and state to monitor police are ineffective.

The Mayor and some members of the Detroit City Council are attempting to get control of our libraries. This move is not motivated by a love of books, but by the desire to control more public money. Over the years, mayors seeking to increase public funds know Detroiters will support our libraries. Over the last 50 years, every single mileage increase has been approved by an overwhelming majority of voters.

As the war in Ukraine intensifies, the only solution being offered by most western powers is to provide more weapons. The Biden administration has now pledged $3.8 billion in military weapons of various sorts. Meanwhile, Russia is glorifying its invasion as a triumph of military force. There are few voices for peace as the US and much of the world justifies accelerating arms in a conflict that is dangerously close to engulfing the globe.

We are moving closer to some measure of justice for the family of Patrick Lyoya. Michigan State Police have finished their investigation and Grand Rapids awaits the decision by Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker on charges against Police Officer Christopher Schurr. Schurr shot Mr. Lyoya in the back of the head after a routine traffic stop on April 4th.