And Still, They Die

Their voices were not heard in peaceful protests

They marched with banners and song
When they cried “black lives matter”
they were blamed as radical and thugs. 

and still, they die…

When they use their celebrity
and try, try to speak for justice, 
they are roundly told to shut up
Shut up and just entertain us. 

and still, they die…

When they wear a graphic tee
repeating the plea, “I can’t breathe,”
they’re commanded imperiously
to wear their uniform and just play ball.

and still, they die…

When they kneel in supplication
during the national anthem,
pleading for equal justice,
they’re condemned and lose their careers. 

And still, they die…
And still, they die…
And still, they die…

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Reviews

[barleygirl]

Your poem does the best job of anything I've read, expressing the utter frustration I feel as I watch all the conservative rednecks in my area slam the protestors, regurgitating the autocrat's vitriol like minions. I've been at a loss as to how to respond to these people, but you hit on the main thing . . . THEY DID TRY PEACEFUL MEANS & GOT DISMISSED OR DUMPED ON! That is the crux of the matter which none of the minions can acknowledge becuz, of course, their lord & master does not acknowledge it & they copy everything he says & does. I'm so f*****g sick of this s**t show, I can't even begin to write about it. That's why I appreciate you tackling it with so much truth, wisdom, & compassion (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you. I feel much the same as you. And, it just never ends.

[Relic]

I agree with and sympathize with your words. Though I must say that I saw a video of people celebrating the death of a trump supporter who was picked out and assassinated which isn't good.

I also don't think that people infiltrating the BLM movement with the soul purpose of destroying local businesses is productive. I see a bad moon rising. Good poem.

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you.

As to what's happening in Portland… recall that as things were dying down, Trump escalated by sending in unidentified troops to snatch protestors off the streets in unmarked vans. In fact, three times things were naturally deescalating and the Trump regime ramped them up again to play the bully boys.

Moreover, that Trump supporter wasn't just "picked out and assassinated." He was part of a caravan of trucks full of Trump supporters who specifically went to the -- at the time they first descended upon the protests -- peaceful justice protesters. They were armed with live ammo and paint guns. The caravan of trucks drove into the area where the protestors were and were shooting the protestors with paint guns from the backs of their trucks, and were brandishing real guns into the bargain.

Later in the evening, after dark and when that caravan had escalated the situation and angered all the protestors, the rioting began, and that man who was part of the caravan was killed. It's tragic that he died, but he was part of an unsanctioned civilian armed action against protestors.

We always hear the right wing claim protestors aren't real, that they are outside agitators. But, that caravan of Trump supporters was legitimately a caravan of outside agitators who went there specifically to inflict violence on protestors.

Make no mistake… that behavior is nothing less than waging war to preserve white privilege. The Trump campaign even calls his donating supporters his "Trump Army," even offering camo MAGA merch for their donations to the campaign. Just what did they expect to happen when they started clearly building their army?

[Relic]

"We got one." Bang Bang. Hmm? As I understand it, the caravan had already left. I must be mistaken. My bad.

[MomzillaNC]

No. The caravan had not left. He was part of a group from the caravan that left the agreed upon route to drive straight into the protest area.

[MomzillaNC]

But, the caravan did leave after he was shot. The police found him lying on the ground with a chest wound. Brave companions, eh?

[Samuel Dickens]

I know, I know. I'm so disgusted with mankind. We really don't have sense enough to come in from the rain. Hopefully, those of us who practice love instead of hate will keep God or space aliens from exterminating everyone. There was a lot I didn't like about the military, but it was the most fair, colorblind society I've ever been part of.

[MomzillaNC]

Y'know, what you say about the military was my experience as a navy-brat. We lived in diverse neighborhoods and went to diverse schools. They did manage to keep us in very white churches. But, after my dad retired, every time they moved, the neighborhoods got whiter and whiter. And, the churches got more fundamentalist and less Biblical IME. I cannot understand how my dad spent 21 years in the service and skewed less inclusive. I just can't understand how the inclusivity that experience taught me was so lost on the rest of my kin.

[...]

I really like very easy flow of your thoughts in this poem. Even you are reflecting on last unrest at streets. It's very moving cause everyone can understand what you want to try to say.
Yes they still die and mostly at senseless deaths . It's like repeating of same story every week. Only names are different. I am really worried it will soon to civil war. Everything seems to sensitive and agrressive . Thank you for great reflection at times we are living in it .

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you. I too am concerned the situation will escalate to civil war. It seems the Trump regime wants that. They don't seem to understand that this is not going to be the north against the south or the east against the west. There is no clear regional demarkation -- the ideological split is among demographics of every single state. If it comes to that, it's going to be more like the civil war still raging in Somalia. Neither side can win if there's another civil war in America.

[...]

I think there is lot of tension on both sides. Every day we can see how this tension growing . Like people are just able to see what is divide us and not what can bring us back to together. That fact almost anyone can own gun it will make more dangerous . I wonder what will follow if Trump will lost. What his supporters will do . I think that will be really on edge . I don't know too much about war at Somalia just it was great mess and mostly who died was innocent civilians . I am really worry it.

[MomzillaNC]

We have to vote in numbers too overwhelming to be denied by the Electoral College. Then, we cannot let the racists and extremists just disappear in the underbelly of this country again. That's what the nation did after the Civil Rights Act. Those old Dixiecrats just faded into the masses -- and raised the next generations in the same hate and ignorance that drove the Dixicrats. It was convenient to ignore them back then. We cannot make that mistake again. At the very least, we cannot permit them to indoctrinate their children, unchallenged, into the extremism tearing this nation apart.

[...]

I think problem can be also education. How many Americans actually known full history of this land. When you live at rural area where you cannot access to full information . It's can make you ignorant. Mostly people said they vote for economy not for Trump. Which is quiet shallow argument. Also I think if things more improve people will be look at each other on more positive light. That fact slavery was abolish but then became part of punishment at jail. This can affect person on live time. When this President start to attack illegal immigrant workers and call on people from Mexico like rapist. I felt this is the end of this country.

[MomzillaNC]

Most who say that are lying if they say they voted for the economy. Trump's economy didn't help the majority of Americans. They voted for him for three reasons: they wanted to assure the SCOTUS would skewed dramatically more conservative for a generation to come (long after Trump's gone), they are forced birthers (so-called pro-life), and because he hates who they hate and actively works to make life worse for who he hates.

[...]

Yes I understand he get lot of support from lobbistic groups. Also his immigration zero policy was welcomed by private companies who running immigration detention centers. His tax law what is more favor to rich then poor folks. His strong stand behind the gun laws etc. You are right economy don't prove much for ordinary people. Everyone speak about low rate of unemployment but nobody speaks about low pay and working over hours or work at 3 jobs just to keep own family alive. If we want to keep democracy at this land we have to provide equal and enough payment to families who suffering more .

[MomzillaNC]

Right 👍🏻

[Robert Trakofler]

and still they'll cry dear Mom! they are not stopping they still gather and fight, protest and demand for their rights and it makes me so damn proud my dear dear hearted Denise we won't quit either now will we:)

[MomzillaNC]

I hope we won't quit, Robert. It's time and past time we put our securely empowered lily-whiteness on the line with our black and brown brothers and sisters.