By Uche Nduka

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they maced their faces multiple times they broke
their eyeglasses tenth ride of the Mounted Units
this is not just about prosecution these protestors
are fighting against domination by a bunch of jerks
there won’t be peace if there is no justice they fund
the military the paramilitary more than the health
department they bail out corporate crooks they peddle
untested drugs for the pandemic they whip millions
of citizens with unemployment devastation of civil rights
they look for ways to neutralize justified anger they kicked
their legs kicked their ankles decked them threw gas at them
agent provocateurs arsonists anarchists you know what’s going
on stop asking this is not a Mad Max movie

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birds flew into protestors whose hands were still in the air
what about those discriminatory practices against blacks
cell phone videos as truth-tellers the school term is steaming
the city she takes off down the block makes for the road with
a backpack says she’s done with quarantine/lockdown
they’ve for ages given the police the benefit of doubt there’s
no dialogue to be had with a hate-monger how long will it take
to realize the evil of hateful disinformation rogue cops throwing
gasoline on fire seems it’s too late to reach across the aisle they
purposely spew conspiracy theories for political gain they’re not
being delusional when they manipulate voters when they throw
voters into political sewer consequences of the crime spree of
government the corruptions of the unequal transfer of wealth
that shop talk of trees rising stocks bail fees soldiers firing at
speeding cars a demagogue’s domestic terrorism disastrous industry
survey rushed condolence call counterattack nothing to write home
about in the transition of power burnt churches defaced billboards
violated shrines graveyards shot up synagogues schools offices
cinemas nightclubs stay up to date with a broken clock

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footprints say this country was built by black hands the
Washington Monument was built by Africans this skyline
says the White House was built by black people this nation
cannot survive the normalization of the police killing of citizens
of color hot take on obelisks full of hatred full of carnage will
they attempt to burn down history too some of their monuments
celebrate lynchings nothing to see here but nutjobs in glass boxes
in the land of the free it’s a sin to be black I don’t trust these cops
taking knees with protestors don’t drink the bleach they call you
a spic as if that is who you are they call you nigger as if that is your
name the gaslighting by these enforcers of white supremacy is getting
to me right about now is this your favorite period drama another hour
to record the atrocities of the police in public spaces whose job was it
to operate the elevator after each killing politicians tell protestors to
calm down what a ruse lawsuits fly from one state to another they yell
about chalets credible threats a shootout lampoons the G7 they claim
spray cans foment unrest a knee pressed into the neck of a man a
TV reporter on duty shot by police at night absentee ballot issues demonized
mail carriers a president inside a bunker muttering about thugs ominous
weapons getting even surrounded by sycophants toadies inflaming the
national trauma no quarter for anti-black racists zero tolerance for lynchers

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closer to where the wind rose bragged devoured coitus interruptus
it’s tiring to always rebuild the houses of my exasperation the pressure
the calamity waiting to be spoken through thrown bottles protests teargas
batons the scrutiny of the elixir of exile I take a knee I burn sage pepper spray
riot shields police cordon the trial begins each day stomping on the roof of
vehicles barricades fall gas masks appear police cars set on fire agitations
over the violent death of another black man police lines betray another
afternoon nasty clashes over racial profiling over justice denied this is taking an
unexpected turn how cool are the secret service officers in mufti curfews
they’re shooting smoke canisters into crowds again property is more important
than people they say blocked traffic rubber bullets shit is about to really go
down they’re ready to crack some skulls why are they provoking protestors
why are they pissing people off blood stains bodies brains