To the Many: a prayer by Rev. Ranwa Hammamy

The ones who don’t make headlines,

The ones who are disappeared in silence,

The ones whose fate will never be known,

The ones who don’t have a perfect narrative,

The ones who deserve(d) every bit of our resistance,

But we failed to show up in time.

I see you. The Many.

The ones who visited the prison cell,

The ones who left water in the desert,

The ones who cried at the makeshift memorial because no body was released,

The ones who answer the phone calls pleading for intervention,

The ones who have been on the frontlines without a choice,

Waiting for decades for someone to notice.

I see you. The Many.

The ones who cannot stay at the encampment but can drive by with food and supplies,

The ones who cannot lead the marches but can offer the childcare,

The ones who cannot join if masks are not required but can coordinate mutual aid,

The ones who cannot show up again until citations, probations, or warnings expire but can train others to take a shift,

The ones who cannot be in the photos but have been in the struggle,

Quietly resisting simply by existing.

I see you. The Many.

The Many are the reason we are still here.

The Many are the reason we are still fighting.

The Many are the reason we are still loving.

The Many are the reason we are still creating.

The Many are the reason we will win.

I see you. The Many.

Thank you.