This was written by my 24 year old niece

The past few days I've been trying to handle my own emotional and mental state as I bounce between overwhelming despair and the need to act. Over the past several years of senseless killings at the hands of police, I believed I had experienced nearly every emotion possible confronting the reality that this country views black people's very existence, my existence, as something to abuse, control, and ultimately eradicate .

At this point I'm left so heartbroken and weary for my people, for this country, and for the world at large. And, I do not have the energy to argue for my right to exist anymore. There are no more words I can say and no more conversations I can have that won't feel like another layer of trauma placed on my shoulders to carry.

Black people are done waiting for justice to be afforded to us. End of the conversation.

If after 400 years you still do not get why, I'm here to tell you that you probably never will. And, I am opting out of continually trying to explain it to people who refuse to listen, acknowledge, or try to understand.

Real justice and long-standing change does not happen silently. What I am seeing right now in the world is an unflinching scream by black people in the face of an abyss that is cold, hard, and stone-faced in it's refusal to see and protect us . But, it is a scream that once released, cannot be silenced and forgotten no matter how hard they will try.There is no going back because it does NOT work and there is no staying stagnant because we can almost all agree 2020 is a living nightmare.

I'm joining my voice in this collective scream - hoping against my own cautious heart and hundreds of years of precedent - that this country will truly move forward for the better because that is the only option worth any of this.

To friends and true allies on the front lines, I do see and appreciate your efforts. As we all probably realize by now, this is just the beginning and we have a long way to go.