People ask me all the time why I am vehemently supportive of these protestors. It took me until my early 20s to learn about the privilege of my gender and race - that j had absolutely zero control over. Buckle up. It's time for a thread.

In my late teens early 20s I got into the wrong crowd. I was a skate punk (oddly enough like the protestors in SLC yesterday) a skinny ass white kid, who had everything a kid could want.

I like to joke about my time in Provo and my first attempt at college - but I was seriously in a bad place. A alcoholic and a drug addict who got hooked on the wrong stuff in the wrong crowd. And it led to me dropping out of college when I landed a dream job

That behavior and privilege led me to driving drunk - and getting pulled over. I was arrested.

no guns
no abuse

even when I lipped off to the arresting officer. He even called my parents to have them come get my car.

then 3 months later I got arrested again.

This time I had drugs in my car -
Personal use amounts but good still weren't fans of cannabis, and even less so of opiates.

again I was arrested. No battery no violence just stuffed into a squad car and taken to jail.

They made sure I had water and could breathe, by rolling down the windows. During interrogation they let me smoke and made sure I was relaxed.

I had a good attorney who was able strike a plea bargain.

I have never been able to forget the words my sentencing judge said to me in January 2003 as I was looking at possibly being locked up for 5-10 years.

”you exude potential, and I am not going to lock you up, you have skills and abilities...”

”... That could be put to better use outside this court and I implore you to do so, because if I ever see you in front of me, I will execute this sentence”

Since that day I have realized the luck and privilege I have. Because there are those out there that have the same and even better skills than I do. Who are passed over, looked down upon and ignored.

So I have always tried to listen and amplify - even if I am not perfect at it, and learn from these experiences, and the people around me. When they protest I protest in solidarity. When they speak and aren't heard I speak with them, hoping my voice can help.

Even today, I can see how I have privilege, cops don't look at me with suspicion even with my tattoos like they do a black man. I don't get followed around stores as I shop. I don't get pulled over for driving aimlessly on a summer night, or occosted whilst taking a stroll.

So it's on me.

It’s on me to learn from those in my community

It’s on me to amplify and support - but not take over

It’s on me to support those who feel powerless and lift them up.

It’s on me to say “Black Lives Matter” with conviction

I may not voice this correctly sometimes especially when constrained by characters like twitter has.

But I do it the best way I know how.
To my LGTBQIA friends
To my friends who are POC
To my women friends

I stand with you and support you.

The end.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled snark.