#blm kidnapping

This is about the BLM kidnapping video.

First off, I have zero issue with the Black Lives Matter movement. I stand with it and support it. The people who act badly in its name are harming the movement and making it that much harder for other black people to feel safe.

I spent five hours writing and rewriting this post to show that my issue stands with the perpetrators of the BLM kidnapping video and everyone who thinks it’s okay to laugh at it.

I’m terrified of the backlash I may get once I hit the “post” button, but I’m going to do it because I’m part of the community that was hurt in that video. I’m disabled (autistic), and I need to stand up for the rights of the disabled man who was hurt by both racism and ableism.

All uses of “you” are general.

If you side with the perpetrators in that BLM kidnapping video, unfollow me right now because you’re racist and ableist and I don’t want you near my blog.

I don’t care what race you are or how able-bodied or disabled you are, it makes me physically ill to see people say “well that kid supported Trump and is white so he deserved it!”

No, that is a terrible excuse to do nothing and let inequality happen right under your nose.

People don’t give a shit about the disabled community unless it doesn’t move even a hair away from their personal agenda. Disabled people are not props for the able-bodied to boost themselves up.

I’m tired of being told I can’t say anything because I’m white, Catholic, asexual and cisgender. I’m also disabled and a member of the disabled community was hurt by the able-bodied community.

I’m tired of hearing “omg shut up whitey your race did shitty things to black people and still do so check your privilege because you’re being racist!”

Don’t give me any “check your privilege” responses because I’m well aware that being white gives me privilege. I’m also aware that being a woman and part of the disabled community means I lack privilege in some areas, too. 

I’ve been abused and bullied purely because I’m autistic. That’s what makes what happened to that disabled man so personal. I’m very much aware that black people have their own struggles and I’m not trying to diminish that. I do not see myself as better or worse off than people of other races or abilities. That’s not how I operate. But I can’t bite my tongue about what I’m seeing anymore.

Inequality is still inequality no matter WHO perpetuates it.

Assaulting somebody for being white while yelling “fuck white people!” is racist and a hate crime just like it’s racist and a hate crime to assault a non-white person for being non-white while screaming “fuck (race here) people!” Add disability to the picture and it’s a hate crime stemming from racism and ableism. 

But who gives a fuck about disabled people? Not the people who watched that video live and laughed. Not the people on Tumblr who said the guy deserved it for being a white Trump supporter. Not the people who say black-on-white racism doesn’t exist. 

I wonder how big a deal it would have been if the victim wasn’t disabled.

The murders, beatings and abuse of disabled people are always swept aside as not important. We get stepped on by other marginalized groups who try to actively silence us or speak over us.

I have the same agenda you do-- equality. I do what I can to be an ally and elevate the voices of other marginalized groups besides my own, but I can’t sit back in silence about that video.

NOBODY DESERVES WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM. NOBODY.

Every single person who watched that happen live and laughed while claiming they fight for social justice is a hypocrite. 

Equality is not silencing everyone else until only you are heard.  

Equality is magnifying the voices that go unheard so they can be heard.

Equality is not stepping on others to raise yourself.

Equality is marginalized groups joining hands and showing our oppressors that we will not lay down and be silent anymore.

Oppressors will keep knocking us down, so we need to keep helping each other up. We may spend our lifetimes trying to level the playing field for everyone and it’s a monumental effort, but it’s still worth trying.

I’m a member of the disabled community shouting as loud as I can that what happened in the BLM kidnapping video is not okay. 

The BLM kidnapping video is racism and ableism. 

Turning your back on it because “it’s just a disabled white Trump supporter” is perpetuating inequality.

So, if you think the BLM kidnapping video is in any way okay or funny, unfollow me right now.

Yeah, go fuck yourself.