every 5 minutes

“Every three minutes a woman is beaten. Every five minutes a woman is raped. Every ten minutes a little girl is molested, yet I rode the subway today. I sat next to an old man who may have beaten his old wife, 3 minutes ago or 3 days. 30 years ago he might have sodomized his daughter, but I sat there. Before I ride the subway, buy a paper or drink coffee from your hands, I must know. Have you hurt a woman today? Did you beat a woman today? Throw a child cross a room? Are they little girls pants in your pocket? Did you hurt a woman today? I must have to ask these obscene questions. I must know you see. The authorities require us to establish…IMMEDIATE CAUSE…Every 3 minutes - Every 5 minutes - Every 10 minutes…EVERY DAY!”

- Ntozake Shange