Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile)

An activist speaks to the crowd over a portable PA system. A moment of silence for Kimmons. Every voice stills Bear Cub steps to the microphone to acknowledge that this gathering takes place on land stolen from many indigenous nations and tribes

The activist returns to the mic to announce that artists will be painting Patrick Kimmons' name across the entire street: Harvey Milk between 4th and 3rd st "This is the place where he passed, and people need to know the significance of this spot"

The crowd is invited to light candles, mingle, and eat the provided food The activist reminds us that tonight is about Patrick Kimmons, and to keep that in mind when considering our thoughts and actions

The crowd gathers around the newly-painted commemoration. It's that moment just between day and night: too dark to see, sky too bright for the eyes to adjust They chant: All Cops Are Bastards

The speeches are about to begin "Black people to the front! Press get out of the way!" The nice thing about being a words guy is I'm already out of the way. Leaning on a wall, listening and watching

The crowd sits in the street. I think about how some days the PPB is willing to arrest anyone who puts a toe in these open-to-traffic streets, and some days they don't give a shit It's often a PR thing. They'd look like real assholes charging in here. We're probably safe

@RageRagina steps to the mic She leads the crowd in a chant: "Rest in power, rest in love, rest in peace Patrick Kimmons!" It starts soft: full of grief. It grows louder: an invocation of power and determination Fists in the air

Ragina states that Patrick Kimmons' murder was a product of white supremacy baked into our system He was shot 9 times. "9 times!" The crowd chants, anger mounting "The only way we can fix this is to abolish the police"

A Black male activist takes the mic "I want y'all to understand that we aren't just out here fighting police brutality. We're fighting against an America that doesn't respect us, that doesn't protect us, that doesn't value us" "This country was not founded with us in mind"

School to prison pipeline. Prison-industrial complex. Discrepancies in healthcare. Discrimination against trans and queer Black people "But the police killed Patrick Kimmons" "We need to burn this shit down and create a system that is inclusive of all of us!!" Huge applause

"Everybody calm!!" A speaker cuts off @Jahdi_'s speech Whatever it is, it's by 4th "Everybody stand up slowly!" I'm trying to figure out what's going on

I'm told a truck tried to get through the cordon. Worried that they may circle around again Someone admonishes us to listen to black voices instead of worrying about it. I'm gonna go ahead and do both

@Jahdi_ resumes his speech. He talks about how abolition is the key. How reform is a red herring "If reform could work, it would already have worked! ICE came through reform!" There's a narrative that only white voices advance abolition. It's simply not true

"We don't need cops, we need affordable housing! We don't need cops, we need more rec centers!" He points out that white communities don't have a constant police presence and are nonetheless safe He points out just how much money goes to the police instead of the community

He admonishes white press for being in the front It is a thing that was said

The activist reminds the crowd that Letha and other Black activists have a Thursday march every week from 10 to 2. He encourages everyone to come out

A Black woman activist takes the mic She talks about the discrepancies in healthcare for Black people "Doctors for Back women are like police to Black men!" She encourages the crowd to vote and to define the police '"I don't want to say any more names!"

A Black activist named Kenzie steps up to the mic She talks about the how this struggle has helped her understand the situation of the Black woman after growing up adopted by a white family About the importance of focusing on mutual aid for the community and the movement

She talks about the importance of creating a sustainable community that can operate independently of the murderous system that oppresses Black bodies About the importance of always asking who is left out of the systems we create

She points out that it's important "to have people saying our names before we're dead" That we have to help the living community and preserve life "I'm here for the children. I'm here for Black mothers. I'm here now for Patrick Kimmons" "I'm here for justice"

Bella, a Black woman activist, steps forward She says that existing on the periphery of this movement, being vaguely aware and vaguely supportive, "you are doing the bare fucking minimum!!" About the need to commit

"I fear going outside! I fear leaving my dad's side because as a light-skinned woman I can protect him! I'm worried he's going to get pulled over and fucking shot!" She encourages her audience to ask themselves if they're doing more than the bare minimum to fix this

"What do you need to do? Help me get rid of this fucking police system!"

@MacSmiff steps to the mic He leads the crowd in a chant; "Rest in Peace, Pat-Pat!" He talks about the unimaginable horror of losing a child. He thinks about his own four kids. One just began studies at OSU "If these pigs shot one of my children, I don't know what I would do"

He talks about the fear he feels when a police car pulls up behind him, or a chud truck with "flags that don't make sense to me" About not knowing what to do. Ignore them? Flee? Or just pray for the best? No good answers. That's why we need to make one

"This is America. This is supposed to be the land of the free and the home of the brave" And yet, he points out, here we are every night in helpers and shields standing against cops "armed to the fucking teeth"