Like you I have struggled to find the words to respond to the horror of the murder of George Floyd before my very eyes. A man who allegedly tried to pass a counterfeit $20 bill was immediately regarded as a thief and killed without a trial or a chance to plead his case. Was he a threat to society? Did the police treat him this way for our own good? Absolutely not.
The irony of this story is he was killed by the knee of a policeman. If you remember it was just a few short years ago that quarterback Colin Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem in silent protest to the unjustified police killings of African Americans. His action was quickly adopted by many players in the NFL and every Sunday we saw them all taking a knee prior to the game. Kaepernick was promptly fired by the San Francisco 49ers and was ostracized by other teams who regarded him as an unpatriotic troublemaker and he never played in the NFL again. His career was ruined for protesting and highlighting that Black Lives Matter. Instead of acknowledging what he was protesting, his critics were deeply offended by his disregard for the flag and thought that was more egregious. “Taking a Knee” as it was referred to quickly picked up steam and it was adopted by many sports personalities. They became targets of Trump and were treated despicably.
Now a policemen has used his own knee to publicly take the life of an African American. Where is the justice?
Today I am ashamed of America.
Taking a Knee
We watched as the horror unfolded He lay helpless on the ground Hands behind back Cuffs binding wrists Immobile Yet a knee on the neck Unnecessary Arrogance and power pressing down hard Choking life from his body Oh the irony of the knee! Silent Sunday protests Peacefully and respectfully objecting to police brutality Taking a knee Only to be Criticized Deviled Ostracized Unemployed and threatened with silent warnings You take a knee and our knee will Take the breath from your body ... and they did Racism lives on in the USA Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing © Rest In Peace George Floyd, you will never be forgotten and your death will not be in vain. #blacklivesmatter Prompts RDP - For our good FOWC - Thief
