It’s been two months since I wondered if the pandemic would overshadow other social justice issues. Or better said, I wondered why the state and public reactions to the threat of disease was much stronger than that to the slow racialized violence and mass death already taking place within the United States. Since then, we’ve learned (as should have been expected) that marginalized communities are disproportionately affected by Covid19, even as they, we, I, materially contend with state violence. How many of us have been killed in this duration, murdered by intent or a simple, painful lack of care? There’s no running count on the cable news. And now—is this the revolution I’ve been dreaming of? Is it now—was it ever—safe to take it to the streets? And who would tell me when it’s safe to breathe?

from Jessica Ruffin