Back in 2016, after another instance of police brutality, I decided to speak out in some way. Surely the truth is clear enough? It was one Facebook post. But we all know how this one goes. I anticipated some pushback; it was social media, after all. But what I didn’t expect was the onslaught of the most aggressive rhetoric and personal attacks on my timeline I’d ever experienced. Some of it, from my own family members:
How could I support those people?
I didn’t know anything about this case, so I should just keep my mouth shut.
I’m the reason why so many police officers are killed on duty.
People weren’t considering my comment, they were attacking it.