Questions continue to surround the death of Sandra Bland, the 28-year-old woman who was found hanging by a trash bag in her jail cell three days after she was pulled over for a traffic violation. Authorities are calling her death a suicide, but friends, relatives and the general public are skeptical.
In response to her death and its mysterious circumstances, Black Twitter birthed the hashtag #IfIDieInPoliceCustody, prompting people to share what the public should do—and know—in the event of their death in police custody. Here are 11 of the most sobering, moving tweets.
#IfIDieInPoliceCustody Know that the color of my skin was the only crime committed.
— Kiaira (@BlvckConscious) July 17, 2015#IfIDieInPoliceCustody know that they killed me. I would do everything in my power to get home to my family. So never stop questioning.
— April (@ReignOfApril) July 17, 2015#IfIDieInPoliceCustody don’t let them tell the world who I was. You tell the world who I was.
— Why So Serious? (@The4th_Duck) July 17, 2015#IfIDieInPoliceCustody ask my best friend for the talking points I gave her. Know I wouldn’t want any respectability politics involved.
— ShordeeDooWhop (@Nettaaaaaaaa) July 17, 2015#IfIDieInPoliceCustody know that I went down swinging the fists of Assata and shouting the words of Angela
— Taryn Finley (@_TARYNitUP) July 17, 2015#IfIDieInPoliceCustody PLEASE don’t let the police claim my history of depression and suicide led me to kill myself. It is a lie.
— Terrell J. Starr (@Russian_Starr) July 17, 2015#IfIDieInPoliceCustody tell them I sagged my pants, smoked weed, and wore hoodies. Ask them if those things warranted my execution.
— Captain Africa (@See_Say_92) July 16, 2015#IfIDieInPoliceCustody don’t try 2 use my background and education to say I didn’t deserve this. I didn’t deserve it without degrees either
— E. Little (@ItsMrLittle) July 16, 2015#IfIDieInPoliceCustody I did not commit suicide. DO NOT forgive my murderer. DO NOT post or share videos of my death or brutalization.
— NRP (@nicole_nrp) July 19, 2015#IfIDieInPoliceCustody, I did not resist at any time. I followed all directions given to me and never waived my right to be silent.
— Fuparella (@KishaBue) July 16, 2015#IfIDieInPoliceCustody Please give support to my son.
— Rebecca Carroll (@rebel19) July 19, 2015