Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) Recites ‘I Can’t Breathe’ Poem for Eric Garner on House Floor

[Cali_Democrat]

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), one of several congress members who did the “hands up, don’t shoot” gesture on the House floor this week, used his one minute speech Thursday to recite a poem that used Eric Garner’s “I can’t breathe” statement as its refrain.

Johnson published the text of his words on his YouTube page this afternoon:

Black men and boys killed by police.

I can’t breathe.

Impunity for the killers – no justice, no peace.

I can’t breathe.

Militarized police met peaceful protesters on their knees.

I can’t breathe.

Weapons of war – a show of force on our streets.

I can’t breathe.

Disenfranchised youth driven to violence as speech.

I can’t breathe.

Cynical media think this makes great TV.

I can’t breathe.

This cowardly Congress afraid of losing our seats.

I can’t breathe.

Half-hearted reform when there’s more that we need.

I can’t breathe.

Just thinking about the despair that this breeds.

I can’t breathe.

Black lives matter. Hear my pleas.

I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe.

Video @ link: http://www.mediaite.com/tv/dem-rep-recites-i-cant-breathe-poem-for-eric-garner-on-house-floor/

[Kalidurga]

1. I am glad this is not being ignored

it is a National issue and it's a personal issue for way too many people.

after many days of anger and grief I wrote a poem inspired by current and historical events.

I made a thread on it linked here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025912059

[Cha]

2. Mahalo Rep Hank Johnson of Georgia.. thank you, Cali~

[Cali_Democrat]

3. You're welcome!

[Faryn Balyncd]

4. Thank you, Rep. Johnson.

[Rex]

5. Good. Congress needs to speak out about this and not just the racist GOP.

We all know what those assholes think about minorities.

[lamp_shade]

6. I watched the speech live. Each time he said "I can't breathe" his voice became

intentionally softer and softer. I was in tears.

[mfcorey1]

7. Wow!

[frylock]

8. incredibly powerful

[gademocrat7]

9. Thank you, Congressman Johnson

Georgia is a sea of red but my district has Rep. Hank Johnson.