Another mass shooting in the US. That isn't even notable anymore. What is notable is that it targeted disabled people, specifically a centre for people with developmental disabilities. The commentary right now is either erasing this fact or framing it as extra-special-no-good-bad. The thing is, violence against disabled people is astoundingly common.
Canadian stats: we're 4-10 times more likely to be victims of violent crime, up to 86-91% of disabled women report being sexually assaulted. There's institutional violence as well. In the US, half of all people killed by police are disabled people.
This may look more blatant and eye-catching to everyone else, but this is not abnormal. Hate crimes against disabled people happen every damn day. I can't even tell you how many times I've been hurt because of my disability, especially from men. Eugenics against disabled people is used as a talking point by progressives to fight for abortion rights. When we're murdered by our families, it's painted as mercy.
I'm incredibly upset by society today, and when you're sick it's really hard to speak up about this kind of bullshit. Disabled people matter, our lives matter, and we're targeted for violence whether the media bothers to mention it or not.
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I wrote this on Facebook soon after I found out. Just after I posted this, I learned that a women's health centre was also attacked. The UK just voted to bomb Syria which will kill and terrorize civilians there. I hadn't even recovered from Paris yet. What is wrong with our species?
Hugs to everyone, hope you're safe and doing whatever self-care you need today.
With love,
Azura
