During the riot at the Capitol, a White woman that was a domestic terrorist attempted to climb through a window of the House Chamber as she yelled, “Go! Go!” Capitol Police, repeatedly today the domestic terrorist to stop, and finally a Capitol Police officer fired one shot, and she falls to the floor. The domestic terrorist was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Immediately, White people took to social media to co-opt the Say Her Name movement created by Black women for Black women and apply it to what happened to this domestic terrorist.
Not on my watch.
I will not today, tomorrow or ever associate a domestic terrorist’s name with the Say Her Name Movement. Say Her Name is about Black women that have been impacted by police brutality. It is a movement that addresses Black women’s invisibility in the global conversation about Black people and police brutality. Say Her Name is not about White women who are domestic terrorists. It is not about White women that attempt to overthrow the government. It is not about White women that are actively breaking the law. It is not about White women that support a racist President. It’s not about White women who post on social media, “Nothing will stop us. They can try and try and try but the storm is here and it is descending upon DC in less than 24 hours…dark to light!”
It’s not about White women. PERIOD.
And I know that is difficult for many White women to comprehend- that something can actually exist in this world that is not about you. I find it really rich but so on-brand for a group of people who have vilified Breonna Taylor and other Black women killed by police that as SOON as a White woman is shot, their first thought is to STEAL something Black women created for BLACK WOMEN. How very basic and typical of you. Your inherent nature is to steal from Black women. Not this time!
What has happened to Black women like Breonna Taylor, Eleanor Bumpers, Sandra Bland, Atatiana Jefferson, Miriam Carey, and countless others is not the same thing as what happened to a White woman that was a domestic terrorist. Breonna Taylor was killed in her home. Eleanor Bumpers was killed in her home. Atiatiana Jefferson was killed in her home. Sandra Bland died in police custody after being arrested for failing to signal. And Miriam Carey was killed by Capitol Police for making a U-turn. THOSE WOMEN is what SAY HER NAME is for. Not for a White woman that is a domestic terrorist. For once, playing the victim isn’t going to work.
If I ever say the name of the White woman who was shot in the Capitol, it will be to remind this world that she was a domestic terrorist, who stormed the Capitol and was killed as she attempted to undermine the American election. That will be her legacy and there is nothing patriotic about that.