For each
blow of the billy club
that smashed
into the small
of my back
a seed of hate
was planted inside me

One-hundred blows
all attempting to beat the
black off an
unarmed man

When it stopped
I was more black
but the love was beaten out of me
I felt blue
—-
With the increase in people participating in the Occupy movement, we’ve also seen an increase in brutality against unarmed American citizens who are protesting in a public space for their beliefs. From physical abuse, to tear gas into crowds of unarmed people, to pepper spraying students sitting down, the violence is definitely getting worse. So what happens when you can’t beat the will of the people? Will you kill them to suppress them? How far will you go and how do you look at yourself knowing you’re attacking the American citizens you were sworn to protect… or were you?