The last month and a half has been an exciting whirlwind filled with a whole lot of activism, play readings, the filming of a web-based spoof, a crash-course in the business of acting, an incredible memorial service, and my halloween-birthday! (Also my four paying jobs.)

Me as Nickelodeon’s Clarissa for Halloween!

I am writing this as a brief touch-in about much, much more to come.

This morning, I had my second court appearance for my arrest at the Justice for Eric Garner protest on July 17, the 1-year anniversary of Eric’s murder. To prepare, I had met with the other people who pleaded not guilty to their disorderly conduct charges, and our lawyers. After this discussion, and  two months to reflect on their initial decisions to plead not guilty, several of the folks decided to take ACDs. I, along with a slightly smaller number of people, have decided to continue on to trial to defend my actions.

I have to admit, though, this morning I still wasn’t sure what I would do.

I know that there is power in numbers. I don’t think of myself as someone who blindly follows the crowed, but I was nervous about where other people were in their decisions about whether to continue on to court or to take an ACD. My soul was telling me to continue fighting this until I can make a clear statement, under oath. Something else in me worried about the time commitment that standing behind my actions would require, and whether I would be selfishly using my lawyer’s time, who is defending me and the other protesters pro bono. My soul won today. And I feel really good.

I will not go into details of the case until after it happens in January, but I will say that I am very much looking forward to standing behind my actions in my testimony in court.

Thanks for following me along my journey to do what I can to Demand that police terror, brutality and murder end NOW.

Me at the closing rally of Rise Up October

I will post soon about my involvement with organizing Rise Up October, three days of action against police terror and murder, and what has happened since. (I promise it’s not all heavy stuff!)

For now, please enjoy the song that popped into my head as soon as I made my decision at the courthouse to continue fighting this. Spread love, peeps. And, please, please, don’t believe the hype.