No place to breathe

I saw you stumble out
From the social slaughter house
Oppression’s progeny
You lift your head and plead for mercy
Rocks began as building blocks
Until they turned to throwing stones
A monolith of dominance
We set atop your plinth of bones

This privilege is a prism
Reflecting our indecision
The iniquities of inhibition
Our indifference gave way to a prison
Classes at war
Castes are born
Criminals are sworn in

Place your hands to the pulse of this city
Keep your ear to the ground, hear her gasp
I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe

Are we so blind to believe
That violence could give birth to peace?

Lay down our weapons and raise our arms
Make every breath a protest
In a world where your neighbors cannot breathe
Every second in the shadows
Lives are stolen in the sun
Slowly waking from our apathy
To see the fascists have won
They already won
Just ask the child in front of the smoking gun

Are we so blind to believe
That violence could give birth to peace?

Place your hands to the pulse of this city
Keep your ear to the ground, hear him gasp
I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe
We shout at fascist
Hands fixed on asphyxiating those in need
Place your hands to the pulse of this city
Keep your ear to the ground, hear her gasp
I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe

Are we so blind to believe
That violence could give birth to peace?

I’ve seen the end
The tyrant on his knees
Will we starve our need for retribution
Or take his eye and all go blind?