We want justice and we want it now.

This was a speech given by NYC Councilmember Jumaane D. Williams on 2/26/13 by mic check at #MIllionhoodies Vigil for Trayvon Martin in Union Square, NYC. Photo by ARCH1 on Flickr. Transcription by InterOccupy.

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My name is Jumaane Williams. I’m a councilmember from Brooklyn.
After God, I work for you.
Being black is not a crime.
Being brown is not a crime.
Being poor is not a crime.
Wearing a hoodie is not a crime.
Having skittles is not a crime.
Having iced tea is not a crime.
Living is not a crime.
Being in a place where you think “I don’t belong” is not a crime.
Justice denied is a crime.
Humanity denied is a crime.
The things that Bloomberg does and does not do is a crime.
The things Commissioner Kelley does and does not do is a crime.
Government and failed policies is a crime.
All government including me when failing the people is a crime.
Dr. King said, “Riots is the language of the unheard.”
We are unheard.
Please do not make us speak in a language you do not want to hear.
Please hear us while we’re calm because unheard people do things to be heard.
When black men and brown men are shot and killed without any retribution,
when stop and frisk condoned by mayor who will double down on State of the City address,
our people who will do things to be heard.
So I beg for justice.
I beg for justice for Trayvon, for Ramarley, for Noel,
for black and brown men who just want to be heard.
If you don’t hear us now, you will hear us later.
I beg and plead: here us now.
Because it is true: No Justice No Peace.
If you know justice, you know peace.
Please choose justice and we will choose peace.
If you don’t choose justice, don’t ask us for peace.
Its unfair, its immoral.
We want justice and we want it now.