There’s rioting, violence and protesting in the streets
An unarmed black man dead, couldn’t breathe
Life snatched at the hands of crooked police
The definition of excessive force, broadcasts as the world sees
However, the root cause of the unrest is seldom appeased
But regardless is surely always followed by mention of peace
Tensions increase beyond the harsh rattle of bullets, batons and tear gas
As the National Guard is tasked to respond in battle to fight them back
The deafening angry noises of grievance won’t be easily silenced
By more needless violence to achieve compliance
Watch live another life taken, just add it to the quota
Of those long gone and those who still long for closure
Many won’t sleep tonight in Minneapolis, Minnesota
It will be a long time before all of this is over
As we mourn one more of life’s black murdered soldiers
Police just killed a restrained and incapacitated George Floyd out in public view
We all got to watch up-close, without a thing we could do
I wasn’t there, but I read about it everywhere and saw it in the news
“I can’t breathe”, imagine it was me, imagine it was me standing watching you
Laying breathless and helpless, unable to change your fate
Pleading with the officers who had you pinned down, before it became too late
Graphic imagery of a white police officer kneeling his weight on a black man’s neck
Who was already cuffed face down on the ground, so why that was necessary, I’ll never get
Nevertheless
I hear that he called out to his late mother with his last breath
And that a paramedic on the scene was refused permission to do a pulse check
I’ve heard police officers can’t refuse that but I don’t know enough yet
So much is done, so much is unsaid
So much is truth, yet mostly incorrect
Being black shouldn’t be a death sentence, I heard the Mayor say
And I read, George’s mother passed, 2 years ago to the day
I hope they’ll meet again together somewhere along the way
The people won’t be sleeping peacefully in Minneapolis, someone will have to pay
The city’s streets are burning as the acts of authority come under fire
Until justice is served, they’ll just keep justifying the riots
The people just want to be heard; the people are just tired
It’s not enough whenever murdering cops are just fired
First priority is the preservation of life, says the Chief of police
And there the blinding irony lies way beyond belief
While the FBI and Attorneys office request for people’s patience
And more information to help assist in their investigation
to determine whether a crime has been committed
The people’s frustration decides they’ve already seen all the evidence they need
therefore, that time is not permitted
Meanwhile, two black members of the CNN press reporting live on the protests were placed under arrest
I say it in jest, but on this day, police say freedom of journalism will not be televised, I guess
Yet the cameras keep on recording
And the internet keeps on reporting
Reposting, forwarding, rehashing, tagging and retweeting
Taking action on these new platforms for speaking
Sharing in this new modern era of reaching
There once was a time
I used to refuse to look and instead chose to hide
From the emotions I felt from the brutality I saw that hurt me inside
But I’ve heard and learned that the poet must not overt his eyes
Especially from the cruel sight of injustices and the images of lies
Deep down it’s all too familiar and doesn’t come as any surprise
We’ve seen and heard this inconceivable narrative play out so many countless times
Witness another unbelievable police snuff film
See the evil of another innocent black man killed
What is it that compels someone to put his knee into a man’s neck
And hold it there until that man can no longer draw breath
Actions of a man sworn in to preserve life, as well as to serve and protect
None in Minneapolis will sleep easy amidst this period of civil unrest
For what satisfactory justice does a wrongfully murdered black man get.
For George Floyd, unlawfully murdered by Police in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States on Monday 25th May 2020 and all of the countless numbers of others everywhere who unjustly lost their lives at the hands of law enforcement. For all those who speak for them in their absence.
© Phoenix James. All rights reserved.