The suicide of a friend.

The system failed her.

We failed her.

What now?

We try to meet peacefully with administrators of the system.

We try to convince them there is a problem.

We try to convince them to make a change.

Administrators stop us.

We did not convince them. We are told they will “look into it”.

They are not sympathetic to our cause.

I march with my picket sign.

Yelling and screaming to be heard.

Yelling and screaming so she can be heard.

Yelling and screaming to make change so this preventable death does not happen again.

Police stop us.

We did not secure a permit. We are not allowed to have signs on sticks.

They are not sympathetic to our cause.

What else can I do? Must I put my body on the line to be heard?

Time, place, manner policies restricting our rights.

The system silences us.

Our screams go silent.

What now?