First they came for there liberty,

they striped away their rights to political representation,

they withheld their right to vote in congress,

“The men must do it, woman in politics risks irrational decisions with their moody behavior”

(moody behavior that originates from testosterone)

and I did not speak out-

because I was not old enough to want to vote.

Then they came for the protesters,

disrupted their peaceful protests,

assaulted our grandmothers,

demonized our leaders; influencers,

tortured those loyal to the movement,

but I did not speak out-

because I had never seen women's suffrage in the color white.

Then they came for their dignity,

catcalled a woman in sweats,

catcalled a woman in a bikini,

(my clothing does not justify assault)

objectified our shoulders, knees, arms and legs,

(a shirtless boy is confident and handsome, a girl with a tank top is shamed and cast-out)

but I did not speak out-

because I preferred to dress modestly, and no catcaller had targeted me.

Then they came for the victims,

“Not all men”

(but all women).

“Do you really want to ruin this young man’s life?”

(he already ruined mine).

“When a boy picks on you, it means he has a crush on you sweetheart!”

(they now normalize abusive relationships).

They weighted woman down with blame:

“Girls! Don’t travel alone at night!”

“Girls! Carry pepper spray!”

“GIRLS! Don’t take your eyes off your drink!”

(What about: BOYS?! Don’t sexually assault people, BOYS! Don’t follow girls at night, BOYS! Don’t drug girls and claim: “they never said no!”)

but I did not speak out-

because I also used this terminology.

Then they revoked Roe v. Wade,

we no longer dictated what our body could and could not do,

we no longer were protected against accidental pregnancy through rape

we, the mothers, no longer felt confident we would survive a risky pregnancy,

our bodies belonged to the government,

and I could no longer speak out, because I’m a killer in their eyes.