Freedom

There is blood
on the hands
on the ground
Blood of the innocent
Blood of the beaten
Blood of the mistreated
Blood that flows
throughout the centuries
with no end in sight

There is blood
in this lineage,
history making ancestors'
compliance a stain
Blood flowing because of our silence
Blood flowing
with no sign of stopping

They say
"Violence begets violence"
but forget the history of violence that
started the reaction
the blood that boiled in silence
the love that withered and broke
the families torn apart
left to deal with the pain alone

It it isn't right
that lives are lost and find no justice
It isn't right to have to spend
a lifetime wondering if you're next
It isn't right that systems manipulate
to protect one and condemn another
This prejudice, this discrimination isn't right

while I can't march,
I am here