Remember when you rolled through a Stop sign, scalped a Giants ticket, kept that handicapped sticker, or passed a joint to your friends at a U2 stadium show? Technically illegal, but…we’ve mostly gotten away with it, right? Did you think for one second that could be your last act? Eric Garner was murdered by a cop using an illegal chokehold, in front of cameras, in broad daylight, for…selling cigarettes. Today, we “learned” the cop will not be tried by a jury of his peers. A week ago a 12 yo boy was gunned down by cops in a drive-by shooting for playing by himself with a toy gun in a playground. (In an open carry state). #mikebrown youtu.be/j1ka4oKu1jo youtu.be/L97aihRvZtQ Watch the videos. They are devastating. They come with a big “Trigger Warning” — but they SHOULD trigger you. They should trigger revulsion, injustice, disbelief, and sadness until it rips your mask of “it’s not about race” or “he shouldn’t have been breaking the law” right off your face. Because we haven’t “all” gotten away with it. Mostly, they should trigger Belief. Belief when I tell you that I’ve been followed, stopped, harassed, illegally searched and threatened by cops for doing far less than you take for granted that you can “get away with”. Belief when I tell you I’m lucky. Belief that the rage and despair that you see marching in streets is in me too…and it is NOT new. Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore– And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over– Like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags Like a heavy load. Or does it explode? –Langston Hughes, A Dream Deferred (1926) A challenge: next time you are inconvenienced by protest march, sidewalk die-in or subway sit-in, roll down the window and listen. Stop and look at the dead bodies scattered on the pavement. Observe your irritation and make it into a meditation -- Who gets away with things, and who doesnt? Let me know what happens. #blacklivesmatter
Posted on: Thu, 04 Dec 2014 01:35:27 +0000
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