Every now and then, governments issue travel advisories to its citizens planning to go to regions in the world considered unstable. Can you guess which country the Bahamas just issued a travel advisory for? That’s right, the U.S.
Only last year, the Bahamas was the country travelers were told to be cautious while visiting, due to high numbers of crimes targeting tourists in Port-Au-Prince.
As of yesterday, however, the Bahamas’ government issued a warning for its citizens traveling here; to the U.S. The reason? The tensions in some of our cities over the shootings of young black men.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration felt the need to specifically instruct young males how to interact with U.S. police officers,
“In particular, young males are asked to exercise extreme caution in affected cities in their interactions with the police […] Do not be confrontational[,] and cooperate.”
The travel advisory also instructs travelers to stay away from crowds,
“Do not get involved in political or other demonstrations under any circumstances[,] and avoid crowds.”
The advisory comes after two recent incidents of the police shooting defenseless African American males, and an act of retaliation by criminal snipers, who targeted and killed five police officers in Dallas on Thursday.
Seven other officers were injured in the horrific attack. Police officers protected 800 peaceful demonstrators before they got shot.
On Friday, protests against police violence that targets Black men also occurred in Atlanta, New York, and Phoenix.
Travel warnings about possible unrest in the U.S. were far from common… Until now.
Last Sunday, the United Arab Emirates issued a warning to its citizens not to wear traditional clothing when traveling abroad. The warning came after a businessman from Abu Dhabi dressed in traditional Muslim clothing was confronted by police at a hotel in Ohio. The clerk thought he might be a terrorist.
Never forget that most police officers are good people dedicating their lives to make the world a safer place for us.
When some misuse their powers, we find out. We might have to look at the paranoia and prejudices behind these recent deeds because a country’s police department is an extension of its people; of us.
Do we want this to be a country where people can’t wear traditional clothing and speak foreign languages anymore? A violent country isolated by travel advisories?
Something to think about in our own daily lives, and before voting in November.
Watch more on the travel advisory from Bahamas here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33lMFB4SBwM
Featured Image Screengrab From Woochit News Via YouTube.
