Mob justice
Travis shot a black man, he says it was self defense
They put him in solitary, that punishment is intense.
For 27 months he was in "the hole" let out for just one hour
where he could use a phone, exercise, and shower.
Then he got a new jail, in a ten by eight cell
So many threats to his life, so protective, but still hell.
Travis's sentence is life without parole
A long time to be stuck inside a hole.
He spends his days drawing and answering letters
He reads the bible, are we sure we are his betters?
He used to be a lifeguard in summer, then joined the coast guard.
Started a fishing business and worked hard.
But a mob came after his relatives and friends
Those who gave his business a good review, were threatened with bad ends
Picketers showed up in front of his house with signs
Did the law give him justice, or was it just payback time?
There was a time mob justice went after blacks
Lynching without checking facts, unwarranted attacks
Travis's excuse is he was wrestling back his gun
I read his account, I don't think he's the guilty one.
The police didn't think so, and set him free
But a narrative after George Floyd, took his liberty.
Apart from that, solitary is considered very cruel
We cannot allow this punishment to become the rule.
If Travis needs protection from angry men in jail
Let's build a new jail, let not the constitution fail.
The eighth amendment was written expressly to defend
people from government cruelty, however they did offend.
There but for the grace of God go I
Yes, there was slavery and many a racist white guy
But racism is an opinion, and goes under free speech
If you believe in freedom, practice what you preach
Don't dox the guy's friends, don't judge him based on what's cool
Or how you think the system works, as a rule
If innocent, let him be, if guilty, then in jail he must go
But be much more careful that you act on what you know.
Copyright ©
Gideon Oknin
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