In the days after learning of George Floyd’s death, I was sort of at a loss for words, not really knowing how to express what I was thinking and feeling, or even what to do. There was so much coverage and commentary on the news and social media, not only about the murder, but riots and protests that were happening also. It was hard to keep up with it all, and it was honestly starting to overwhelm me.
Yesterday, however, I wasn’t just watching or hearing about what was happening via the news and social media, but I was there to see and hear for myself.
I participated in the Jackson, MS protest held at the Governor’s Mansion. At first I was hesitant because I didn’t know what to expect, but when I got there and saw all of the people and the signs with messages of ‘Black Lives Matter,’ I was in awe of it all.
As we marched down the street chanting “No justice. No peace,” so many emotions came to my mind. I literally cried because I realized that I was a part of something big.
I was 19-years-old when Trayvon Martin was shot and killed, and I remember how upset I was watching the trial, hearing how the murderer was painted to be some type of “good citizen protecting his community,” while information brought up in the media about Trayvon seemed like an attempt to villainize him as they mentioned irrelevant past things that he had done. But even more crushing was learning that his murderer got off free. FREE?! I didn’t understand why or how, but I didn’t realize that I would be asking myself that same question years later.
Eric Garner, John Crawford III, Michael Brown, Ezell Ford, Tamir Rice, Aiyanna Jones, Eric Harris, Walter Scott, Freddie Gray, Sandra Bland, Jamar Clark, Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, Terence Crutcher, Stephon Clark, Atatiana Jefferson, Pamela Turner, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd-This isn’t even HALF the list of the countless number of Black people who have died in the hands of the police.
Like so many others, I just want to know HOW MANY OF US HAVE TO DIE BEFORE EVERYONE RECOGNIZES THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER?!
I’m tired of having the same conversations, seeing the same narratives play out. It’s tiring and exhausting. And honestly, it SUCKS!
I’m not sure of what’s going to happen from all of the protests and marches, but I’m hopeful. I have to be.
Those 8 minutes and 46 seconds of silence that we took at the protest to represent the amount of time that George Floyd was on the ground with a knee on his neck was such a powerful moment. My mind was going so many different places. I couldn’t even imagine what he was thinking and how he felt.
He is why we are fighting. All of the many cases of unarmed Black men and women who have been killed are why we are fighting and we will continue to fight.
