I would like to share my story regarding being arrested by DPD whilst protesting on the night of Saturday, May 30th/the morning of Sunday, May 31st.

Around 10PM I drove to Detroit from my home in Ferndale with the interest of showing solidarity with those opposed to police/state violence and to offer rides out of downtown if shit got hot(which it did).

When I arrived, a protest that had been completely peaceful all day despite many, many provocations by DPD the previous night and thought the day was quickly declared a riot by 11PM after police deployed tear gas, causing chaos and confusion amongst demonstrators.

DPD’s strategy over the next half hour was to “kettle” protestors by pulling up on them and firing at the crowds indiscriminately in order to force protestors in a certain direction.

Eventually DPD cornered a large group of demonstrators, myself included, in Campus Martius. They pulled up and began assaulting and arresting protestors. I surrendered to an officer, and whilst on the ground under his knee, he pulled down my mask/goggles to mace me. He then ran.

I was completely blind and disoriented, but what I remember next is two other officers screaming at me, and pulling me over the metal bar of a bus stop and throwing me into the street. At some point they put me in the back of a van and drove me somewhere else with more arrestees.

Over the next 5 hours, I was completely blind. My repeated pleas to wash out my eyes were mocked or refused until processing at the precinct had finished. DPD continued to scream at protestors, calling us “outside agitators”(rich considering 80% of DPD lives outside the city).

When I was finally able to see again, I saw that I had gotten off relatively easy - other protestors had broken limbs, cuts, bruises, and countless other injuries. After being driven to a correctional facility, we were all released en masse and told to go home.

I got home around 6 AM. These are photos I took of my injuries once I had returned home. The cuts on my knees have become permanent scars.

I want to share this story now because I feel that a lot of us have forgotten or begun to willfully ignore what is happening in the streets. DPD are still brutalizing protestors, media and legal observers alike. They are acting like brutes.

The Detroit abolition movement, @DETWILLBREATHE needs bodies in the movement. There isn’t anyone in my circle who isn’t on board with abolition in theory - but they need you on the streets with them. Show up.

We are never going to build power without numbers. Ideas of how to build a more just and equitable society are powerful but they require constant amplification to be heard and to be sure that those who control the levers of power have no choice to listen.

Many have been in the streets for 100 days straight. I implore you to show up at least once. My sincere hope is for anyone who is able, to attend as much as possible.

For weeks I was afraid to return to the demonstrations because of the fear I felt when at the mercy of police. I promise you there is no fear the state can wield that is more powerful than solidarity between people working towards a righteous cause.

Tonight and tomorrow:

As a post-script I would like to say that what I went through was chump change compared to what most BIPOC or poor folk go through in a lifetime at the mercy of police violence.