The Duchess of Sussex spoke out against the “senseless act of racism” that triggered protests in America and the world during the speech to graduates of her old school last night.
However, Meghan chose not only to call out hatred but also praise the officers who got it right in their response to demonstrations.
She said: “The other thing though that I do remember about that time was how people came together.
“And we are seeing that right now, we are seeing that from the sheriff in Michigan or the police chief in Virginia.
“We are seeing people stand in solidarity, we are seeing communities come together and to uplift and you are going to be part of this movement.”
The “Sheriff in Michigan” was Christopher R. Swanson, of Genesee County, who took off his helmet, instructed officers to put down their batons and then walked with protesters.
The New York Times reported how as he stood before the crowds, he initially told the peaceful demonstration: “We want to be with you all, for real.
“I want to make this a parade, not a protest.”
When he asked how the police could respond to the protest by several hundred people, the crowd chanted: “Walk with us. Walk with us. Walk with us.”
Sheriff Swanson spent several hours with the protesters and at the end of the march, in Flint on Saturday, made a speech.
He said: “We are walking with you because all you’re asking for is a voice and dignity for all, no matter who you are.
“I love you guys. The police love you.”
The “police chief in Virginia” was Norfolk’s Larry Boone, who put the riot squad on hold and took questions from a crowd of some 350 angry but peaceful protesters.
He said: “I want to meet with each and every one of you if we can work together.
“All policemen, folks, aren’t bad.”
He added: “You’ve shown the world how it’s done.”
The officer told Wavy.com he was quickly surrounded by 350 or more people and answered questions from 30 to 40.
He said: “They are expressing their grievances and their grievances are real.
“They are very emotional in these surreal times, times that I haven’t seen in 30 years.
“You saw a man killed for public consumption for the whole world to see.
“And it pains me to think that some loved one would see that, to see the life leave his body as he cried out for his mother.
“We need to have real progress and I have no doubt after this because I’ve never seen anything like it there will be real police reform.”
