The man and I had an anniversary, 34 years. Our son and his love came over. The afternoon was lovely and low key. I thought I’d post pictures of us and write about the sweetness of that. But that Sunday night another unarmed black man was gratuitously shot by police. And I couldn’t form the words. In Kenosha, Wisconsin, Jacob Blake had just broken up an altercation between two women, was walking back to his car, where his three sons, ages 3, 5, and 8 were waiting for him. One of the boys had a birthday and their dad was taking them to celebrate. Someone apparently called the police about the two women fighting and when they arrived they followed Jacob to his car and shot him seven times in the back. How is an unarmed man walking away from you a threat? I think I need to take a break. I’m so inexpressibly tired of writing about black bodies being brutalized by police. It never ends. And yet I feel a responsibility to bear witness. Imagine the trauma of those three little boys? Jacob Blake lived, but the bullets severed his spine, paralyzing him. As long as I live I’ll never forget that the police bought that white boy who shot nine black worshippers in church in Charleston, South Carolina a meal from Burger King after arresting him without a scratch. Yet they pump seven bullets into the back of a father who tried to be a good citizen and break up a fight. Attempted murder in plain sight of his children. Also, the cops in Louisville, Kentucky who shot innocent unarmed EMT Breonna Taylor in her bed have still not been arrested. Fuck the police.
Yes. Fuck them. Defund them, depower them, demand that they have to be subject to justice.
ReplyDeleteThis is all way too much. The line was crossed a million years ago. Why can't anything be done?
I wish I had words. I have none. I weep and worry.
ReplyDeleteNo Justice, No Peace. Obviously, Police departments still aren't 'getting it' and making changes. Watching the news conference with his family today was heart breaking. His 8 yo son will always have horrible memories of his birthday. We must keep marching, screaming, demanding change. And firing bad police officers and holding them accountable in court.
ReplyDeleteFuck the police, fuck the carceral state, fuck white supremacy.May all of us devote our lives to revolution, to doing whatever we can to ensure a world where this is not normal or acceptable.
ReplyDeleteAmen
ReplyDeleteYou and your man on your 34th anniversary celebrating with your family near and far are a healing presence in this time of immense sorrow. Amen.
ReplyDeleteHearts continue to be shattered. We grieve and live and love against all odds.
I, too, am without words. I'm sitting here trying to think of something to write and failing. how on earth can that ever be justified. how can any of it ever be justified. I weep.
ReplyDeleteIt's too much. Too much hatred. Too much violence. Too much bullshit. Too much of everything bad in the world. And there is still good in the world, even though it doesn't feel like it, there is. There is love. There is forgiveness. There is joy. There are hugs.
ReplyDeleteThe entire culture of the United States has to change, to value people over money, to value building over tearing down, to value the things we have in common over the differences, to value compassion over indifference and heartlessness.
And not just the US, humanity needs this for us to survive. None of us get through this life on our own. We all depend on one another, we are all connected and what one of us does, affects all of us.
I agree...
ReplyDeleteWOW, I was just about to post the Vanity Fair photo. The Nazis have infiltrated the Portland police , several years ago, Blm protest , 90th night consistently with no end in sight, BLM signage everywhere, BUT what will change this? A new administration maybe? My heart is shattered. Utterly shattered, Police have no place on this earth, none.
ReplyDeleteI came back to wish you and your man a Happy Anniversary. I forgot the heart and love in the midst of the sadness and outrage.
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary to you and your beloved. We rejoice in your love story even as we rage against the injustices in this world. Continued blessings.
ReplyDeleteI do not know how it gets better. I have read that police in Germany receive two or three years of training. Police here get eight weeks. Something bad happens in their minds. Ever since they killed Amadou Diallo I have had a goal to not interact with police. But I do not have the target of being Black on my back. So, yes, fuck and defund the police.
ReplyDeleteIt seems as if the world we knew has gone mad. I hope things change in the US after November.
ReplyDelete