September 11th was my fourth day of High School in Manhattan coming from Staten Island.

This day is painful for many reasons but to name a few....

Staten Island lost the most people per capita in the city. I remember friends waiting outside their porches for their first responder family members. when I finally got to go back to the island almost a week later

I hate absolutely hate what this city and country did to Muslim, Arab and other folks living in this country that fit the stereotype and narrative of what the admin was selling. DHS was started on the basis of discrimination and harm

What I will also #NeverForget is that we ended up bringing a war to a people who never should have experienced the violence we inflicted on them period full stop. The war complex got us to engage in some of the most brutal rage we’ve put upon people.

It was painful when the NYPD implemented the most egregious surveillance on Muslim communities here.

It’s painful when people excuse the NYPD for years of continued structural racism for one day. Till this DAY.

I also won’t forget crying because I didn’t know if my uncle was in one of the buildings or near by and hurt (he was nearby he watched the second tower hit and went right to the subway ). I also didn’t know how I would ever see my family again.

I cried not knowing if I’d see the first responders in my family come home.

It’s painful that family and community members signed up for endless war on the backs of lies and fueling our military industrial complex.

I’ll also #NeverForget that in the fall if 2017 when Hurricane Maria hit and led to the deaths of more people where my family is from and where some still live, water sat on tarp for HOURS.

Correction DAYS