As the nation is being thrown into an era of frustration and heartbreak over the far too regular deaths of black people by the hands of police, everyone is feeling the impact on some level. Children are unfortunately no exception. Even they have a firmer grasp on the world around them than one may think.

The children are listening, people. And, more importantly, they’re hurting. Evidence of this came on Tuesday when 9-year-old Zianna Oliphant spoke before Charlotte city council in their first meeting following the shooting of Keith Scott and the protests that soon followeed and unfortunately turned fatal for one participant. 

“I feel like that we are treated differently than other people. I don’t like how we’re treated. Just because of our color doesn’t mean anything to me,” said Oliphant, according to The Guardian.

“We are black people, and we shouldn’t have to feel like this. We shouldn’t have to protest because y’all are treating us wrong. We do this because we need to and have rights,” she continued as tears began to roll down her face.

She later added that “I’ve never felt this way until now.”

“I can’t stand how we’re treated,” she continued. “It’s a shame that our fathers and mothers are killed, and we can’t even see them anymore. It’s a shame that we have to go to their graveyard and bury them. We have tears and we shouldn’t have tears. We need our fathers and mothers to be by our side.”

Video footage of the young girl speaking on behalf of the pain felt by millions soon went viral. If there are still people attempting to believe that the pain associated with these killings isn’t genuine, just watch the clip below.

Photo Credit: YouTube