you can burn
our throats
sting our eyes
and shoot rubber bullets
to stop us

you can call it
an “unlawful assembly”
even though
the ones you are hurting
are the ones
who are shouting
“PEACEFUL PROTESTS”

you can stand there
dressed in heavy, protective suits
carry batons & zip ties,
and ignore our cries

but we will not stop.

because you see,
violence is what brought us here,
and violence is what
fuels our movement

so go ahead.

just know
that even if you do,

we still will not stop.