Franklin Graham delivers tough lecture to “blacks, whites, latinos, and everybody else”

14 Mar, 2015 by Alyssa Lafage

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After two cops were shot on Wednesday night outside of the Ferguson Police Department following months of protests over the shooting death of Michael Brown, Christian evangelist Franklin Graham took to Facebook with a straightforward message to “blacks, whites, latinos, and everybody else.”

If a police officer tells you to stop, you stop. If a police officer tells you to put your hands in the air, you put your hands in the air. If a police officer tells you to lay down face first with your hands behind your back, you lay down face first with your hands behind your back. It’s as simple as that. Even if you think the police officer is wrong—YOU OBEY.

He also directly addressed parents and the president.

Parents, teach your children to respect and obey those in authority. Mr. President, this is a message our nation needs to hear, and they need to hear it from you.

Graham wrote that he believes some of the shootings we have seen recently could have been avoided and closed his message urging people to submit to leaders in authority:

The Bible says to submit to your leaders and those in authority “because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account.”

While it was clearly well-intentioned, Graham’s message did not sit well with all who read it. On Facebook, many commenters are pointing out that respect goes both ways and that there are implicit problems in the criminal justice system that must be addressed.

What do you think? Is Franklin Graham misguided or spot on? Comment below.