By: Emily Tran
On May 25, George Floyd died of asphyxiation in the custody of the Minneapolis police. Derek Chauvin, a police officer, was filmed kneeling on his neck for nearly nine minutes, including the three minutes after Floyd stopped breathing. He was also helped by two other officers who placed pressure on Floyd’s back.
During this video, Floyd expressed his extreme discomfort and begged the officers, “Please, please, please, I can’t breathe...my stomach hurts. My neck hurts. Please, please. I can’t breathe.” However, the police officers ignored his pleas until Floyd gradually stopped moving. When he was later taken to the hospital, the police confirmed that Floyd didn’t have any weapons on him at the time of the arrest.
On May 29, Chauvin was fired, arrested, and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. He is currently being detained at Oak Park Heights state prison, a maximum-security prison. The other police officers involved in the arrest were fired as well.
However, this incident has sparked anger across the world regarding racial injustice and police brutality. The peaceful protests soon shifted to violence as the police escalated the situation by employing the brutal usage of tear gas, batons, and rubber bullets. A few protesters began to riot by vandalizing buildings, looting businesses, and setting fires. In some cities such as Oklahoma City, their local police forces took a knee displaying their support for the protesters. In other places like Seattle, their police officers demonstrated excessive force against the protesters such as an officer repeatedly punching a person on the ground.
In response to the looting and vandalism, President Trump took a more aggressive approach and announced he would employ the military and heavily armed soldiers to silence the protesters. 40 cities have enacted curfews in response to the violent protests; violation of the curfew may lead to fines ranging from $500 to $2500 or up to six months in jail. Trump later criticized Democratic officials for having weak tactics and in an interview on CNN's "State of the Union," he claimed there was no systematic racism among the police forces in America. The government’s response may only worsen the divide in a country stressed by a pandemic, economic crisis, and racism.
To combat police brutality, join campaigns such as Campaign Zero or Reclaim The Block to hold the Minneapolis police force accountable for their actions and to prevent the over-policing of communities of color. Sign petitions or make a donation to an organization. Floyd’s family created a GoFundMe for funeral fees and legal costs. Support minority-owned businesses who have been damaged by the protests. Join a local protest, but safety comes first. Bring a mask, hand sanitizer, try to keep your distance from others in the protest, and get tested for COVID-19 afterward. Educate yourself on the history of police brutality before you spread awareness on your social media about the Black Lives Matter movement. If you would like more info on how to show your support, click here.
In the last decade, there have been many instances of police brutality. No matter what angle you look at this situation, there is a divide between the police force and the communities they protect. How did Floyd feel begging for his life to the man who promised to protect people like him? If Floyd was white, he would’ve been alive today. Whether there are good or bad policemen, the double standard of our justice system needs to change.
Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/31/politics/trump-george-floyd-protests/index.html
https://www.google.com/amp/s/globalnews.ca/news/7010572/george-floyd-arrest-explained/amp/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2020/06/01/us/derek-chauvin-what-we-know-trnd/index.html
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.businessinsider.com/why-are-the-george-floyd-protests-so-much-more-intense-2020-6%3famp
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2020/05/31/us/police-tactics-floyd-protests.amp.html
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2020/05/31/us/police-tactics-floyd-protests.amp.html
https://people.com/human-interest/which-cities-have-curfews-amid-widespread-protests/
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