#GeorgeFloyd was murdered at the side of the road as he, along with bystanders, pleaded for his life. A 9-year-old Black girl was there watching, as were other Black folk. Instead of walking away they stood there bearing witness & fighting for George to be treated humanely (1/n)

They stood there, absorbed that trauma, recorded the violence, tried to reason w/ the police officer, downright begged. They understood that Black life in America is under threat, they believed that #BlackLivesMatter & they stood with #GeorgeFloyd, even as he was murdered (2/n)

This beautiful little girl, 9-year-old Judeah Reynolds, stood with #GeorgeFloyd. She watched him die, heard him plead for his life. She should be able to be a child, free from the specter of wanton racial violence. But Black children cannot afford indifference to racial violence.

I’ve watched & videotaped police on behalf of Black people (strangers otherwise) whose lives I feared for. This is an act of solidarity & survival. But the videos aren't saving us. They shock those who don't believe us, captivate those who might be indifferent but do not save us.

Amy in the park can threaten racial violence on a whim. Michael up the block can grab his buddies, chase us down and murder us. Officer-so-and-so can hold his knee on our necks, as we beg for our lives & our community begs too. Ad nauseam. All caught on video. To no end.

Even as COVID-19 disproportionately ravages Black communities in Minnesota, Black folk are risking their lives in the streets to demand accountability for the death of #GeorgFloyd. It's death at the hands of the virus or death at the hands of the police. But no justice.

I didn't want to talk to my kids about this. We're stuck in quarantine, I'm exhausted & I didn't have the heart to. But my 10-year-old somehow overheard something & started asking questions. He was angry & asked "Why?" There is pain in the question & pain in the answer (END).