In past years, each documented death marked a warning post that could have catalyzed structural change but was thwarted by failed reform and protracted apathy on the part of those in power. We ought to see his murder as one of countless instances of violence, suppression, and injustice, predating the founding of this country. As we know, Floyd’s death, tragically, is far from anomalous. Thus, Floyd does not merely deserve our shock and dismay - he deserves our informed commitment to thorough-going racial justice, for him and for those like him.
Eric Garner,whose death popularized #ICantBreathe,was killed for selling untaxed cigarettes in another borough of New York City. We would be wise to remember that Floyd was killed after police were called to investigate his alleged use of a counterfeit $20 bill. As commentators noted, Amy Cooper’s false claim - “I’m going to tell them there’s an African American man threatening my life” -very well could have resulted in a deadly police altercation. On the very same day as Floyd’s death, New York resident Amy Cooper made headlines for threatening to call the police on an African American man who was bird-watching in Central Park. Now, during the pandemic, African Americans are at particular risk of over-policing evidence shows that Black Americans are many times more likely to be arrested for social distancing violations. The president’s remarks typify the mired, atrophied and tactless response to the murdering of Black Americans that has persisted for far too long.Īnyone who has been following the news remotely will know that Black Americans have been policed, and even killed, for all manner of innocuous acts. Thus, in a moment of glaring incompetence, insensitivity and irony, Trump’s idea of “honoring Floyd’s memory” amounts to merely fueling the very police state which precipitated his death. Twitter has since flagged Trump’s tweet for “glorifying violence,” while critics have questioned the constitutionality of the President’s call for lethal force. … Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts,” invoking the infamous words of Miami Police Chief Walter Headley who was known for targetting African Americans in the 1960s. One tweet said, “These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd. In a Twitter thread from yesterday, President Trump targeted individuals who have looted local Minneapolis businesses during the three days of protest. President Donald Trump, for his part, has seized the opportunity to seed yet more violence. More than anything, the public outcry has called for a concerted, holistic response to George Floyd’s murder.
Alongside these tributes, there has been a concerted effort to channel “social media activism” into tangible action, such as contacting the Minneapolis District Attorneys or donating to Floyd’s family and to the Minnesota Freedom Fund.
Surveying social media, I see countless tributes to Floyd: stylized illustrations, messages of anguish, and images of protest. With the footage of Ahamud Arbery’s murder fresh on our minds, there is an eerie familiarity to the public grieving of injustice. Thousands of miles away from the deadly incident, I, like many others, have watched its aftermath play out over social media, across news headlines, and in conversation. Just yesterday, Chauvin was taken into custody by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and charged with third-degree murder.
These protests, the likes of which arguably have not been seen since the protests in Ferguson following Michael Brown’s death in 2014, have continued nearly non-stop since Tuesday, resulting in numerous arrests. The now-viral video clip shows Floyd pleading for his life, repeatedly saying “Please, I can’t breathe.” Since Monday, Floyd’s murder has ignited a maelstrom of protests in Minneapolis as activists demand justice for Floyd. Officer Derek Chauvin pinned Floyd’s neck to the ground while three other officers stood guard, despite clear evidence that Floyd did not resist arrest. Five days ago, George Floyd, an African American Minneapolis resident, died after being arrested and subjected to lethal violence at the hands of local police officers.
0 kommentar(er)
