Voices in Humanism

I Stand

I stand for justice, peace
I stand for equity alongside equality
I stand until the hate crimes cease.

I stand for George Floyd.

I stand with nurses, doctors
I stand with teachers and their students
I stand until the violence ends.

I stand with George Floyd.

I stand by friends, family
I stand by not so distant relatives
Soon to be lost loved ones
Until we stand and silence our guns.

I stand by George Floyd.

But I stand against those
Who kneel on freedom
Kneel on humanity
Losing their own
Under the weight of a man’s dying breath
To those,
I turn my back.

We will stand in your way
We will stand and be seen
We will not be moved
Until you come,
Stand where we stand
See what we see

Maybe then,
We would still be standing next to George Floyd.

 

Jodie Makara (pronouns: ze/zir/zirs) is currently a second year nonbinary medical student at The Ohio State University College of Medicine where ze strives to bring more knowledge and awareness of LGBTQ+ identities and gender inclusive language to the medical field. Originally from Illinois, but soon to be an Ohio resident, Jodie uses poetry to cope, celebrate, and express zirself in ways that people can relate to, so they get a glimpse of life through zirs eyes.