livedpoetry
An important message from the National Lawyers Guild - Detroit & Michigan Chapter
zypiris
<older man and older woman chatting amiably at a table, their conversation is just on the edge of intelligible>
Denise: Oh, hello!
Bill: We were just talking about you kids.
D: I’m Denise Heberle (HEB-er-lee)…
B: And I’m Bill Goodman.
D: Together we’ve been fighting fascism for over 50 years.
B: And so much has changed over those 50 years, such as the ingredients to a successful firebomb!
D (cheerily): And the glass that bank windows are made of!
B: But there’s one thing that hasn’t changed over 50 years, something that is so important to tell you kids who are new to this movement.
Both: Shut the fuck up.
D: You’re sitting in the police transport van after a protest?
B: Shut the fuck up. In a holding cell, with your comrades?
D: Shut the fuck up. Cop knocks on your door?
B: Shut the fuck up.
D: Texting on an unsecured device?
B: Shut the fuck up. Pulled over by the cops after a protest?
D: Shut the fuck up. Cop just asking about your day?
B: Shut the fuck up. Feds call your mom?
D: Tell your mother to shut the fuck up.
B: Now. Repeat after me. When the cops come calling, what do you do?
(Cut to Bill standing with eight kids)
Kids: Shut the fuck up!
(Cut to Card:
“Shut The Fuck up
A Public Service Announcement from
NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD
Detroit & Michigan Chapter”)
