Derek Chauvin kept his knee on George Floyd’s throat for seven minutes. He looked into the camera as he did it. His partners did nothing. George pled that he couldn’t breathe, over and over. He was unarmed. Lying on asphalt. Hands cuffed behind his back. Hadn’t committed a violent crime. Was an American citizen, with a right to due process. And that cop planted his knee on George’s neck until he suffocated, horribly, face pressed against the ground, stripped of even the barest human dignity.

This is a disgrace. This is an insult. This is murder.

Firing isn’t enough. Chauvin committed a murder and his partners were complicit. We must see justice. The police are not judge, jury, and executioner. Cops don’t get to destroy lives on a whim. They have a duty to us, the people. They’re meant to serve and protect. I am disgusted and furious that cops continually commit atrocities and protect each other from seeing consequences. American police forces are plagued with trigger happy racists. If you don’t resist arrest? They’ll still kill you. If you’re minding your own business, in your own home? They’ll still kill you. Complying for a routine traffic stop? They’ll still kill you. They will kill you, and their buddies will protect them.

Our lives matter. Black lives matter. We will not be silent while you kill us.

Above, “an extinct flying dragon.” Middle, bat. Below, generic bird. The Animal’s World. 1936.