Stolen Breath

the first shots came from the crowd
high into the air
into the smoke and soot
we screamed that we could not breathe
and we were repaid with more shots
more bullets hit our shields
but we would not back down
not even as we were beaten
thrown to the ground as if we were nothing
the shots rang out and we screamed

“I CAN’T BREATHE”

and this time they listened
we were no longer alone
no longer discarded to the streets
we mattered

we matter

all this because we believed
that one day
we would finally be free