I Can’t Breathe

These are just the cis-gendered males.

The grand jury in Ferguson, MO decided not to indict Darren Wilson, largely because they were given incorrect instructions as to the letter of the law.

Of course I was angry. But more than anger, what I felt was an overwhelming sense of being not at all surprised and sadness. It was this crushing, blinding sadness and it choked me.

I can’t breathe.

John Crawford was shio while shopping in an open carry state. He picked up a BB gun in a place where white men have carried assault rifles in an attempt to prove a point and the grand jury in that state declined to return an indictment.

The level of despair that knowledge brings up in me is so overwhelming I can’t breathe.

Tamir Rice was shot while playing with a toy gun. He was 12 years old.

I. Can’t. Breathe.

And now, to see the grand jury in the Eric garner case refuse to return an indictment, even after viewing the video evidence, after being told that the NYC coroner ruled the death a homicide and learning that the choke hold applied was outlawed in 1993?

When the people of Ferguson react with violence at the lack of concern the people who are supposed to protect, serve, and represent them they are doing it because they can’t breathe. And when you’re being choked you flail. You lash out at anyone in your line of sight, anyone who you can lay your hands on, even if they are friendly because you’re desperately trying to stay alive.

They Can’t Breathe

When a number of Caucasian friends decided to try to fill up my BINGO card as fast as possible I ended up unfriending more than a few and got even more sad.

WE CAN’T BREATHE

When I watched other Caucasian friends discover that people they liked and admired are, in reality, just really racist and hateful I felt bad for them. When they made it clear that while they were in pain, this issue was the thing they wanted to focus on, I was extremely proud to call these people friends.

BUT I STILL CAN’T BREATHE

When the society that is choking us spends as much time as it possibly can telling us we deserve it

WE CAN’T FUCKING BREATHE

I wanted to be eloquent about this. I wanted to cite statistics and quote sources. I wanted to incorporate the words of people more skilled and well known than I am. But…