Yamiche Alcindor: Protesters and their stories

[Nevilledog]

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Over & over again, Pres Trump has claimed many of the people protesting are part of a domestic terrorist movement.

Over & over again, I have talked to many protesters who tell me they are demanding equality for all people including black people. Here are some of their stories.

Lisa Brown, of Maryland, came to BLM Plaza outside the WH to protest against no officers being charged directly with the killing Breonna Taylor. "She didn't have a chance to fight for her freedom. We have to fight for our own freedom now … That could have been me, my daughter."

Lisa Brown added this about the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: "I prayed that she would last until after the election. I am so afraid because I have grandchildren ... and what’s going on now is going to affect them more so than it is going to affect me. ... It’s unfair."

Dajourn Anuku, 20, a junior at Georgetown Univ., said of the Breonna Taylor non-indictments: "Can't expect much from the system that literally has their agenda set out to kill black women … This is not a system that can be reformed. This is a system that has to be shut down."

Christine Brandes & her wife were married by RBG. Brandes said, "She more than anyone in recent memory has embodied this essence of all people are equal before the law ... This grand jury, various attorneys general will not actually step up and implement equality under the law."

Christine Brandes said of Breonna Taylor: "This young, beautiful, vibrant, amazing woman who was contributing to her community gets shot down because they went to the wrong house looking for some ex boyfriend. What the hell? I mean the whole thing is so infuriating."

Bridget McGraw, Christine's wife, has a 95-year-old dad who is dying of COVID-19. "The death of Justice Ginsburg came on the day that my family decided to put my dad in hospice care. It’s very, very heartbreaking. … I want to ... pay my respects to the people who are suffering.”

Kiara Pusey, 28, works with special education students in Maryland. "I don't know if I'm gonna end up being a hashtag, my brother, a family member. It's so scary and there's still no consequences in America. I feel like the only thing we can do right now is vote."

Isiuwa Oghageon, 20, is scared of who could be killed by the police next. "It could be anyone. It could be any black woman, any black man, any black trans person, any black non binary person. Doesn't matter what you have, where you came from, you can be the next hashtag any day."

(Pictures to go with the story at link)