The True Story By: Larry Lomax

           I woke up this morning to the sound of innocent people screaming out there rights. My cans I had been collecting for months were stolen from me in my sleep. This was my only way of actually making money I didn’t have to beg for. I hated begging, it made me feel worthless but I had no home, no money, no family, and needed help sometimes. The police were circling in on everyone who was yelling. I knew what happened to that poor kid Freddy, but I knew I couldn’t change anything.

          

          I knew I had on the only shirt I owned, I found it out back of this restaurant on Pratt Street a while back. I wanted to get out of this area as soon as I could. I might be homeless but I’m not stupid. I know the police already hate black people, and here I am with a shirt saying “Fuck the Police”. Something was going to happen if I didn’t go, I just knew it.

             

          I began walking away when a new line of officers approached, I guess the rioters were moving in the direction of me trying to flee. As I tried to turn around one officer flipped me off and cursed at me with all his built up racial tension. I tried my best to keep moving but he would not stop. I lost it, I did my best to be calm but I lost it! Ever since my car accident, my temper was never really controllable.

            

          As I turned around screaming with furry I realized the officer had disappeared. I wanted to leave but now it was too late. I had caught the attention of another officer. This one seemed angrier than the first one. Yelling and cursing at me set my temper off yet again, so I yelled back. The crowd didn’t seem to notice at first, they had been seeing this type of thing for days now.

            

          Then the officer took it way too far. He pulled out the biggest bottle of pepper spray I had ever seen and unloaded on me. I don’t know how I can even still see. This drove the other rioters insane! All because of one angry officer; I end up getting sprayed. I wasn’t even mad at this one, well not until he yelled at me. Police need to learn a lesson, and I hope the one who actually caused this event comes forward in court. Justice will be served.