Editor’s note: Chicago activist and poet Malcolm London joined the community protest of the police killing of Harith “Snoop” Augustus, a popular barber, on July 14 on the South Side. The following is excerpted with permission from Malcolm’s Facebook post. The Facebook post includes a 15-second video by Karess Taylor-Hughes showing Chicago police officers very aggressively going after the protesters. Malcolm’s Facebook post was on July 16. Go to: https://www.facebook.com/malcolm.d.london
“This was the moment after the last news camera left & they charged us like an army platoon with batons hitting us, knocking down women & children, punching & choking folks. Mind you WE WERE STANDING BEHIND A BARRICADE and THEY charged us. I have bruises on my hip, leg, arm & back. I witnessed 11 officers wrestle my homie @brothermaddmaxx down to the ground with his hands up. After being slammed to the ground myself, I watched them knock over @sharlyngrace Attack @charlenecarruthers @trailkaress & an entire crowd of people grieving. This moment was traumatic. We live in a country where it is dangerous to be Black & dangerous to care about someone who is Black being murdered. I cried & yelled & fought back & after getting beat up, we gathered & marched to the police station to get out the people who were arrested. This is America. #JusticeForSnoop”