11 Heartbreaking, Revolutionary #IfIDieInPoliceCustody Tweets

The hastag exposes the truth and fear surrounding the interactions of black people and the police in America.

By Kenrya Rankin Jul 20, 2015

Though her family has asked people to “refrain from posting social media messages” about her case, Sandra Bland’s death on July 13, 2015, has sparked a trending hashtag on Twitter that shines light on the fate that befalls hundreds of people each year: #IfIDieInPoliceCustody

The posts range from heartbreaking to revolutionary to biting. Here are a 11 that show just how much #BlackLivesMatter:

#IfIDieInPoliceCustody it isn't because I talked back or assaulted an officer. pic.twitter.com/aRqSAJPmFR

— malkia a. cyril (@culturejedi) July 17, 2015
 

#Ifidieinpolicecustody Do not make calls for peace or forgiveness. Do not speculate about my mental state. I'm Black and constantly enraged.

— Charlene Carruthers (@CharleneCac) July 17, 2015
 

#IfIDieInPoliceCustody do not apologize on my behalf. Do not forgive. Do not forget. Express your rage to validate my humanity.

— Captain Africa (@See_Say_92) July 16, 2015
 

#IfIDieInPoliceCustody don't trust any report of me being aggressive, I put my humanity aside in interactions w/ cops to come home to my kid

— jamilah (@JamilahLemieux) July 17, 2015
 

#IfIDieInPoliceCustody tell the media to use the 1st pic and not the 2nd pic.twitter.com/KIe4pRcnPH

— king fee (@kingfee901) July 16, 2015
 

#IfIDieInPoliceCustody Do not let Don Lemon within 10 feet of whatever State I died in. Do not let him utter my name.

— Laffn@u (@KimShoeCrzy) July 17, 2015
 

#IfIDieInPoliceCustody don't spend too much time mourning. Know that I died speaking truth to power.

— Zora Neale Baéston (@bdoulaoblongata) July 17, 2015
 

#IfIDieInPoliceCustody Know that I had a feeling I would. We all do. #SandraBland

— TruthBeTold (@Big6domino) July 16, 2015
 

#IfIDieInPoliceCustody I asked if I was being detained, I asked for my phone call and I asked for my lawyer.

— #JusticeForTamirRice (@essdotX) July 16, 2015
 

#ifidieinpolicecustody its because these two groups were one in the same. pic.twitter.com/G5syuXxc1H

— Lil Saint (@Kamdranee) July 17, 2015
 

but, #ifidieinpolicecustody burn this muhfucka down.

— Wave Hollister (@onefiftyone) July 16, 2015