8 Mins 46 Secs. It’s a Long Time to Have a Man’s Knee on Your Neck
With nothing to do, just breathe
Breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck. Put yourself in the picture and breathe. Out.
Breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying face down on hard cold pavement. Put yourself in the picture and breathe. Out.
Breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying face down on hard cold pavement. Hands handcuffed behind your back. Put yourself in the picture and breathe. Out.
Breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying face down on hard cold pavement . Hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Put yourself in the picture and breathe. Out.
I was put in the back seat of a police car, then dragged, out flung on the pavement, facedown. My hands still bound. I am on the floor, when the policeman puts his knee to my neck.
Breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying face down on hard cold pavement. Hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Breathe. Out.
Breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying face down on hard cold concrete. Hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Breathe. Out.
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
Breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying face down on hard cold concrete. Hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Breathe. Out.
I can’t breathe
Breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying face down on hard cold concrete. Hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Breathe. Out.
You can’t breathe properly.
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
You cry out
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete. Hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
Breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying face down on hard cold concrete. Hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Breathe. Out.
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
You groan
Breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying face down on hard cold concrete. Hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Breathe. Out.
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
Surely this is not happening, I can’t move. It’s daylight, surely people can see what is happening, I wish I could raise my head to see. I can’t, his knee is crushing my neck. I can hear cars go by. I see people walking past, but I am helpless. Somebody, anybody, can anybody help me? I gotta take a breath.
I can’t breathe
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete. Hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
I can’t breathe
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete. Hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
You plead
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
Officer: 320 Can we get an EMS code 2? We got bleeding from the mouth.
Dispatch: Copy
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
Dispatcher: Go ahead
Officer first inaudible, then: EMS code 3
Dispatcher: Copy EMS code 3
I can’t breathe
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
I can’t breathe
You groan
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete. Hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breath. Out.
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breath. Out.
“Get up, get in the car,” they say. “I will,” you reply, “I will”
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breath. Out.
I can’t breathe
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breath. Out.
I can’t breathe
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete. Hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breath. Out.
I can’t breathe
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
I can’t breathe
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
Groan
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
Mama
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
Mama! I can see feet moving around. there are people around. Wait, I can hear voices, its a woman, she is pleading on my behalf. Another person has stopped, they are shouting louder. I don’t bother trying to raise my head. I am focusing on the next breath, its hard. My chest hurts.
I can’t breathe man, please
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
I can’t breathe
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breath. Out.
I can’t breathe
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
I can’t breathe man, please
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breath. Out.
I can’t breathe
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breathe. Out.
Struggle to breathe in. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Struggle to breath. Out.
I can’t breathe
My eyes close as I fade away, but I can hear voices, so faint. Am I dying? Everything is going dark, so many voices. “He’s got Mace” what’s that? “He’s not moving,” Who?
Check his pulse
The man ain’t moving, bro
You are still. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Unconscious.
You are still. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Unconscious.
You are still. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete. Hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Unconscious.
“Get off from his neck”
“Are you serious?”
You are still. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Unconscious.
You are still. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Unconscious.
You are still. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Unconscious.
People shouting
You are still. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Unconscious.
You are still. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Unconscious.
You are still. Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck, lying on hard cold concrete, with your hands handcuffed behind your back. Two more men on your back holding you down. Unconscious.
I think they are lifting me, unto a stretcher. Back of an ambulance.
Eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s a long time to have a man’s knee on your neck.
Such a long time.
Postscript:
It’s been rather busy watching events unfold. Someone filmed my death and it has rippled through the world. So many out protesting against racism and police brutality. It’s unreal.
O, and there’s Gigi, I miss her so much. What did she say? My daddy changed the world? I lean back and smile.
Eight mins 46 seconds.
Not a long time to change the world.