he cried out!

for Jordan Neely

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A Poem on the life and death of homeless performer Jordan Neely, and the recent acquittal of his killer.

he cried out!
for Jordan Neely

he cried out as he
boarded the subway car

“I don’t have food
I don’t have drink!
I’m fed up!”

desperate homeless
young and Black

and threw his jacket down
in New York City
that Gotham town

here’s a picture of him doing
his Michael Jackson routine
to delight and entertain
on the streets and in the trains
(sun and rain)

young artist so full of life
and now he’s gone

lynched by
a vigilante’s chokehold
on the floor of the subway car

who’s now been let off free
by the system that set
the whole crime up

there’s no justice for
the criminals of hunger
from one that creates
homelessness and hunger

making its victims
the homeless and poor
into its scapegoats
*
maddened by neglect
he cried out of bottomless need
in a world that throws
endless riches at the feet

of the few already filthy rich
and steals from and starves
the rest of us

Justice for Jordan Neely!
No Justice No Peace!

– Sarah Menefee, People’s Tribune

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PT Homeless Desk |  + Articles by this author

San Francisco poet Sarah Menefee is a long-time homeless rights activist. She is the Homeless Desk on the People’s Tribune Editorial Board. She is a founding member of the League of Revolutionaries for a New America, the Revolutionary Poets Brigade and 'First they came for the homeless'. Her latest collections of poetry are Human Star and CEMENT. 'Her latest books of poetry are Holy Eel, There You Are and Winter Rose.

Free to republish but please credit the People's Tribune. Visit us at www.peoplestribune.org, email peoplestribune@gmail.com, or call 773-486-3551.

The People’s Tribune brings you articles written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Unsigned articles reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: ©2024 peoplestribune.org. Please donate to help us keep bringing you voices of the movement. Click here. We’re all volunteer, no paid staff.

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