By Denise Dunbar
Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), one of several congress members who threw up the “hands up, don’t shoot” gesture on the house floor last week, used his time on the house floor last week to remember Eric Garner. He recited a poem using Garner’s last words “I can’t breathe” .
The text of the words are below.
Black men and boys killed by police.
I can’t breathe.
Impunity for the killers – no justice, no peace.
I can’t breathe.
Militarized police met peaceful protesters on their knees.
I can’t breathe.
Weapons of war – a show of force on our streets.
I can’t breathe.
Disenfranchised youth driven to violence as speech.
I can’t breathe.
Cynical media think this makes great TV.
I can’t breathe.
This cowardly Congress afraid of losing our seats.
I can’t breathe.
Half-hearted reform when there’s more that we need.
I can’t breathe.
Just thinking about the despair that this breeds.
I can’t breathe.
Black lives matter. Hear my pleas.
I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe.
