All lives should matter equally

There is no need to look further than our own back yard

To see the damaging impacts of entrenched racism

The deprivation of opportunity

When skin colour overrides merit

When skin colour consigns someone to the outer

When skin colour is the reason

For refusing to engage

For refusing to respect

For refusing to embrace

For refusing to regard as an equal

There is no point in trumpeting that racism does not exist

When your life enshrines the opposite

When your statements belittling the struggle of oppressed people

Say the opposite

To those who counter Black Lives Matter

With ‘All Lives Matter’

You might try saying ‘All Lives Should Matter Equally’

Because the fact of the matter is that they don’t

Not in the USA

Not in England

Not in many other places

And definitely not here in Australia