As someone from a country that has witnessed a civil war, totalitarian leaders, ethno-religious pogroms, state-sanctioned brutality & the slow eradication of human rights under the guise of criminality, I can frankly tell Americans:

You don't know what you're playing with.

The biggest mistake I see is people waiting for A Big Sign that'll tell them that things have gone too far. One Big Thing that police or lawmakers or the president/leaders will do that will cross the line.

It'll never come because they won't cross it. They'll move the line.

That line you think you stand behind is shifting everyday with little actions, bills, legislations. Police murdering people on camera & not getting charged. White supremacists threatening leadership & getting a free pass.

That line will stop moving one day, & it'll be too late.

A frog doesn't know it's in hot water if the temperature is turned up little by little. By the time the frog realizes it's in boiling water, it's done. Dead.

You're that frog.

You think these measures and actions being taken are really about "curbing crime, curbing looting, keeping protests peaceful?" You think, "Surely, it can't be about targeting Black people? Surely, it's simply about weeding out criminal entities? Surely, not ALL police are bad?"

There is a reason the focus remains on "looters" & "rioters" & "criminals" when it's clear those are a SIGNIFICANT MINORITY of the protesting population. Even a monkey can see that. Ask yourself why punishments are being meted out to EVERYONE, press & medics included.

I could tell the story of how nonviolent agitators from Eastern Nigeria were violently squashed by the Nigerian military while other favored groups carry out daily pogroms & aren't labeled terrorists, even when they threaten open violence on the govt.

The playbook is old, guys.

I save my energy because I have no space to worry over two countries. But I can say this for free: every day, your sensitivity is being eroded by these willful atrocities. The envelope for what you'll accept is being pushed. One day, all of these things will be your new normal.

Remember how, at the beginning of COVID-19, we were all, "Oh no, a pandemic! Quick, protect everyone!" Then a fuckton of people died, and then we were like, "Well, SOME people must die, tho..."

That's you now, but with police brutality, white supremacy & racist leadership.

Do the work needed to fix up. Do it NOW. You think you have time, but you don't. Police in 50 states just don't behave like bastards for no reason. Protesters in 50 states aren't suddenly "enemies of the country" for nothing.

Educate yourself & fix it now, or you'll be sorry.

Phew, this thread ran away from me! Must mute for sanity.

If you're looking for ways to support BLM organizing communities, monetary and otherwise, this doc has a ton of links and resources: http://tinyurl.com/blmforever 

Solidarity, guys. #BlackLivesMatter