Thread by @LaurenJMapp

This week has been a crazy, whirlwind of emotions for me and my family. I have been trying to collect my thoughts and put them into words, but with studying for my finals, I haven’t been able to fully process what happened until now. #CSU #ColoradoStateUniversity

I normally try not to post about political issues, but since this happened to my two younger brothers I cannot sit idly by.

My younger brothers are sweet, kind, caring and unbelievably talented young men (although it pains me to refer to them as “men” when it feels like I was JUST changing their diapers). Both are musicians who have played in school ensembles, their own a metal band, and play

traditional Kanien’kehá:ka social dance music.

They are also artists, who spend hours on end drawing intricate works of art in their sketchbooks when they come to visit me in San Diego.

Kanewakeron recently made the dean’s list at his college in New Mexico, and Skanahwati is preparing to graduate from high school this month.

As an older sister to five siblings, I often worry about their safety. When they were toddlers, that meant holding their tiny hands when we visited the Grand Canyon so they wouldn’t fall over the edge.

Now that they are teenagers, it means - apparently - worrying that they will be the victims of someone’s prejudice, even if they’re just on a college tour.

Over the years I have silently mourned for the families that have lost loved ones due to a wide array of issues pertaining to prejudice. I luckily have not had to deal with anything this severe firsthand, but it pains me that my siblings had to during the trip to CSU this week.

Please let this be a lesson to all that just because someone doesn’t look or act like you, that doesn’t mean they are dangerous. And calling the police on two boys just because they are quiet is not OK.