No Place to Breathe

I saw you stumble out from the social slaughterhouse
Oppression's progeny, you lift your head and plead for mercy
Rocks began as building blocks until they turned to throwing stones
A monolith of dominance we set atop your plinth of bones
This privilege is a prism, reflecting our indecision
The iniquities of inhibition, our indifference gave way to a prison
Classes at war, castes are born, criminals are sworn in

Place your hands to the pulse of this city
Keep your ear to the ground, hear her gasp
"I can't breathe, I can't breathe"
Are we so blind to believe that violence could give birth to peace?

Lay down our weapons and raise our arms
Make every breath a protest
In a world where your neighbors cannot breathe
Every second in the shadows, lives are stolen in the sun
Slowly waking from our apathy to see the fascists have won
They already won
Just ask the child in front of the smoking gun
Are we so blind to believe that violence could give birth to peace?

Place your hands to the pulse of this city
Keep your ear to the ground, hear him gasp
"I can't breathe, I can't breathe"
We shout at fascist hands, fixed on asphyxiating those in need
Place your hands to the pulse of this city
Keep your ear to the ground, hear them gasp
"I can't breathe, I can't breathe"
Are we so blind to believe that violence could give birth to peace?

I've seen the end
The tyrant on his knees
Will we starve our need for retribution
Or take his eye and all go blind?