The residence hall I live and work in at Santa Clara University has, for the third time in two years, and for the second time this quarter, endured a bias incident. This one came in the form of someone inserting the word "don't" between and "Lives" and "Matter" on a whiteboard that had "Black Lives Matter" written on it, intending very blatantly to convey the message that "Black Lives Don't Matter."

I am here to say that this kind of hatred will not be tolerated. I am here to say, once again, that I am tired of the prejudice and racism that is very alive and well in this country. Incidents like these happen so often, they're not even surprising, and that's beyond ridiculous. The ignorance and outright malice we are surrounded by cannot stand.

I am here to say that I am not okay with this— that the Santa Clara University community cannot be okay with this. I am here to say I'm angry.

I am here to say enough. I am here to say that we must speak out. We must continue to use our voices.

Helplessness waxes red

upon the eyes in the form of a broken
bloody hatred. Black Lives ^Don’t Matter.
At least in nightmares
the villain disappears with the waking.
To a new day we toast
another onslaught of the news,
unsurprising and oozing with
inhumanity. To the same hatred
which boasts a false sense of
superiority we look on with eyes
undying. There is a God
whose blood reveals light.
There is a brightness which illuminates
from the inside.

There is a day in which creation will no longer cry.

We use the special voices
our mothers molded and told us to use
in times of battle.