George Floyd
On Monday evening, a 46-year-old black man identified as George Floyd was murdered by the Minneapolis police department. Mr. Floyd was being arrested for trying to make use of a potentially counterfeit bill and after being handcuffed people noticed a compliant man being led away by the officers. Minutes later videos started to reach surface on every social media platform, creating outrage, confusion, and a horrific feeling of suffering among viewers.
The videos show a white male officer later identified as Derek Chauvin choking Floyd to his death. The officer knelt on George’s neck for 7 minutes while he was laying on the street cuffed, unable to move, helpless. The man repeatedly says, “I can’t breathe” and then “I’m about to die”. When Chauvin finally removed his knee, Floyd’s body was unresponsive.
Many protesters have been seen on the streets obliviating the current COVID-19 sanitary emergency. People are out begging for justice to be served, they are out to make their voices be heard, they are out to let the government understand that black
Lives DO matter. Is this the world you want to inhabit? Is this the life you want to live? Is this the society you want to build?
Manifestly, George Floyd was not the first man that saw this fate, he was not the first black person whose life meant nothing to a white police officer. We cannot change the past but we can ensure a future in which justice is served, not once in a while but always.
We can build a society in which repercussions exist equally for everyone despite their economic state or social status, despite something so trivial as the color of one’s skin, despite sexual preference or religion. George Floyd is one of many black people who have been mistreated several times by our judging and corrupted society.
He was not the first, but he could be the last.
I’m not black, but I see you.
I’m not black, but I hear you.
I’m not black, but I mourn with you.
I’m not black, but I will fight for you.
This case of police brutality is due to institutional racism and those whose actions led to a murder should be held accountable for their wrongdoing. George Floyd was a peace activist and respected community leader. He was far from his home in Houston when he was murdered in broad daylight by Minneapolis police.
Please, join in demanding justice for George and his family by adding your name to a petition which will automatically be sent along with your message to County Attorney Michael Freeman, who has the power to arrest and charge these police officers:
https://www.justiceforbigfloyd.com
#JusticeForFloyd #BlackLivesMatter #SayTheirNames
By Natalia Del Castillo, Step 10.
