“The George Floyd uprising has brought us hope. Now we must turn protest to policy” by Derrick published by The Guardian on Tue 30 Jun 2020 11.42 BST
The Death of George Floyd Essay
8 minutes 46 seconds! We all fear or at least think of death, and the video recording of how George Floyd died with the knee of a ruthless police officer at the back of his head is one of the worst ways of leaving this life. This kinds of execution by the members of law enforcement on the people they are supposed to protect, happen multiple times in the inner cities of the United States, but the presence of a video recording with George, a black man, lying on the ground on his belly, handcuffed, and a white police officer’s knee placed on his back right below his neck.
“I can’t breathe,” he said and calling for his mother, resonated with many people not only in the United States but also worldwide (The New York Times, 2020).
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The Murder of Black Men
The execution of black young men in the police seems to be something that has been sanctioned in our society because Derek Chauvin’s colleagues did not stop him from even check on George Floyd’s wellbeing. Even as the black community protests order to stop the murder of their people by law enforcement, other communities feel the responsibility for the existence of such an environment. George Floyd’s was proof to the rest of the world that Black Lives Matter was a warranted course, that would lead to the protection of all members of the society, a way fixing the broken law enforcement system and racism on our society (Johnson, 2020).
Diversity
Nevertheless, there is hope! The diversity of the people attending the protests is a conspicuous depiction that as a society we do not warrant the unfair execution of any of our own, regardless of their ethnicity, age, income level, political alignment, and sexuality. For months after the death of George Floyd, these protests persisted creating a dystopia and threatening the economies of most cities, for example, Portland in Seattle.
Black Lives Matter Related Policy Changes
This was, however, a necessary opportunity cost for us to create a society we are proud of or one that our founding fathers promised; if and only if policy changes are carried out in order ensure that there is no security in our country, but also social justice and fairness. There should be policies that help create a healthy coexistence between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Economic policies that help protect the people of colour and other vulnerable groups are necessary, and so this massive restructuring of the police system (Johnson, 2020).
The policy changes should target not only the members of the public but also the members of law enforcement. Think of Derek Chauvin, what was going through his mind the entire 8 minutes 46 seconds? What is it that happened to desensitize him so much that killed a fellow man in cold blood? What is going on through his mind right now, being labeled a cold-blooded killer and the most infamous people, not only in the United States but also worldwide? There is need for policies that protect the police and also the existence of a training system that prepares them for the fieldwork, thus enabling them to discharge their duties with strictness, fairness, and kindness (Johnson, 2020).
References
- The New York Times. (2020). How George Floyd Was Killed in Police Custody | Visual Investigations [Image]. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
- Johnson, D. (2020). The George Floyd uprising has brought us hope. Now we must turn protest to policy. Theguardian.Com. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
