Manda Maria

Believe us. The first time. Atatiana Jefferson was in her Fort Worth, TX home babysitting her nephew (pictured) when a neighbor noticed that her front door was cracked open and called a non-emergency line because he thought something could be wrong. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ A cop showed up, peered through her window and saw Atatiana standing in her HOME and gave her less than FOUR seconds to respond before killing her in cold blood. In front of her 8-year-old nephew. She was my age. He never identified himself as an officer. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ That’s it. There is no additional context. She did nothing. Said nothing. Threatened no one. There is no “well maybe” scenario for you to justify that Black bodies are targeted in this country. If you are a white person and that reality makes you uncomfortable, then use your white privilege and speak against state-sponsored terrorism and racial violence. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Don’t lean into white fragility simply because this is an experience and fear that you cannot relate to or believe. No one is saying you’re racist or that *all* cops are trash. I am saying that all of our voices are needed in denouncing this. And if you ignore this very real issue, then you are perpetuating it. Full stop. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you are ever worried about a Black person, do NOT call the police as you should have enough bodies to realize that it could cost us our lives. #atatianajefferson https://www.instagram.com/p/B3nX_FFB63E/?igshid=tqzyv9m5yfxq

Believe us. The first time. Atatiana Jefferson was in her Fort Worth, TX home babysitting her nephew (pictures) when a neighbor noticed that her front door was cracked open and called a non-emergency line because he thought something could be wrong. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ A cop showed up, peered through her window and saw Atatiana standing in her HOME and gave her less than FOUR seconds to respond before killing her in cold blood. In front of her 8-year-old nephew. She was my age. He never identified himself as an officer. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ That’s it. There is no additional context. She did nothing. Said nothing. Threatened no one. There is no “well maybe” scenario for you to justify that Black bodies are targeted in this country. If you are a white person and that reality makes you uncomfortable, then use your white privilege and speak against state-sponsored terrorism and racial violence. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Don’t lean into white fragility simply because this is an experience and fear that you cannot relate to or believe. No one is saying you’re racist or that *all* cops are trash. I am saying your voices are needed in denouncing this. And if you ignore this very real issue, then you are perpetuating it. Full stop. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you are ever worried about a Black person, do NOT call the police as you should have enough bodies to realize that it could cost us our lives. #atatianajefferson https://www.instagram.com/p/B3nX_FFB63E/?igshid=cl14i28mwxxa

Got loooove for Our city. 🗽 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The last two photos didn’t post for some reason, so here it is again. Please continue to look out for our marginalized communities and share this info. Rights and suggested action applies to all states, not just NY. #abolishice (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzHFk_ThQKz/?igshid=16vdk3q8ijehw

#nathanphillips #americanhero ✊🏾 https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs4EH-UF3SN/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=agv11ztoxjbv

It’s voting day let’s gooo!🗳💪🏾 There’s still time to get to the polls and even register in some states (list in story). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Your vote absolutely matters. As Joe Biden put it, “The very character of our country is on the ballot: Fairness, decency, respect, equality.” ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you were unsure of how or when to take action - this is an extremely important time to show up for each other. ✊🏾✊🏿✊🏼✊🏻 💙 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What’s at stake next week is the direction of our country over the next ten years. Research and vote based on the wellbeing we want to see for our families and of ALL of our communities, not necessarily based on your party affiliation. As times show, it’s much bigger than Democrat vs. Republican. (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp20lQmF76l/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1icd0kgjw1ru6

If you are tired of me posting about racial violence, I hope you get tired enough to speak out and help see its end. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ There was nothing “random” or coincidental about this hate crime. Nia Wilson, an 18-year-old girl, was followed and stabbed to death by a man who targeted her and her sister for being Black women. Nothing else. Just senseless hate. This could have been me, your neighbor, or anyone you know with the “wrong” skin color at the wrong time. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I won’t put a picture of the trash MURDERER/TERRORIST/WHITE SUPREMACIST next to one of God’s daughters. Friends in the Bay- this man is still at large and able to devastate other families. Please check my story and be on the look out for his face. @oaklandpoliceca it is absolutely unacceptable that you aren’t the leading agency on this investigation and that BART is running business as usual. Protect your community and bring this family justice. #niawilson #justicefornia #herlifewasworthmorethanahashtag

If you are tired of me posting about racial violence, I hope you get tired enough to speak out and help see its end. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ There was nothing “random” or coincidental about this hate crime. Nia Wilson, 18-year-old girl, was followed and stabbed to death by a man who targeted her and her sister for being Black women. Nothing else. Just senseless hate. This could have been me, your neighbor, or anyone you know with the “wrong” skin color at the wrong time. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I won’t put a picture of the trash MURDERER/TERRORIST/WHITE SUPREMACIST next to one of God’s daughters. Friends in the Bay- this man is still at large and able to hurt other families. Please check my story and be on the look out for his face. @oaklandpoliceca it is absolutely unacceptable that you aren’t the leading agency on this investigation and that BART is running business as usual. Protect your community and bring this family justice. #niawilson #justicefornia #herlifewasworthmorethanahashtag

If you are tired of me posting about racial violence, I hope you get tired enough to speak out and help see its end. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ There was nothing “random” or coincidental about this hate crime. Nia Wilson, 18-year-old girl, was followed and stabbed to death by a man who targeted her and her sister for being Black women. Nothing else. Just senseless hate. This could have been me, your neighbor, or anyone you know with the “wrong” skin color at the wrong time. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I won’t put a picture of the trash MURDERER/TERRORIST/WHITE SUPREMACIST next to one of God’s daughters. Friends in the Bay- this man is still at large and able to hurt other families. Please check my story and be on the look out for his face. @oaklandpoliceca it is absolutely unacceptable that you aren’t the leading agency on this investigation and that BART is running business as usual. Protect your community and bring this family justice. #niawilson #justicefornia #herlifewasworthmorethanahashtag

Happy Sunday 🙌🏾☀️

How many fucking times? How many times will we have to read the same generic headline with the swapped out photo of another black face denied the most basic level of humanity? I am tired and out of words (maybe not👉🏾). No, I don’t plan on watching the video, because I think the world is desensitized enough to violence against black bodies. Two more children are without their father because of the very people who took an oath to protect them. • Listen to “DNA” on repeat and walk as many avenues you need to muster the sanity to go back to your desk and do your “job”. Cry, yell, pause, take a nap, let God know his children are ANGRY and HURTING, seek community, then *get up and contribute action beyond hash tags.* I’m going to channel this jumbled slew of emotions into a letter to our lawmakers. If you’re white and don’t know what to do, start by checking on your friends. • Because guess what, the rescue team ain’t comin. That’s us. ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼Video repost from @klovethepoet, thank you for the self love reminder. #sayhisname #stephonclark #blacklivesmatter

It isn’t Thursday, but here I am missing my favorite lagoon anyways 🤷🏽‍♀️ (at Manarola, Le Cinque Terre)

📍🏡 (at New York, New York)