Jun 7, 20209 min read

THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD: America’s response and beginning steps to become an advocate and ally

Rileigh Thomas

America has boasted about its civil freedoms for centuries, however, these liberties are often only granted to the privileged white population. As blatant racial oppression is exposed through social media, America is experiencing a wave of public outcry and demand for racial justice. The battle for BIPOC (black, indigenous, and people of color) rights has existed since the moment European settlers invaded American soil and executed Indigenous populations, and this community has been deprived of equal rights to this day. Yet, modern politics have attempted to stifle the ongoing gravity of racial inequality. American education systems have led students to believe that the battle for racial equality ended with the civil rights movement in the 1960’s, and that segregation and violence against black citizens no longer occurs to such a degree. White Americans are raised to ignore the suffering of their black peers, and remain in a comfortable state of denial to the horrific injustices occurring to the rest of the population. These false images of equality are grotesquely far from the truth, and gradually, white Americans are waking up to the systematic racism that plagues the everyday lives of black citizens. Denying the imbalance in privilege and stifling oppression that exists in America today cannot continue.

This recent revolution for racial equality was largely ignited in response to acts of police brutality against black individuals. Michael Brown, Samuel Dubose, Freddie Grey, Walter Scott, Christian Taylor, and Breonna Taylor are only a few of the increasingly large number of black lives that have been taken at the hands of US Law Enforcement: on average, one in three black men will experience the American prison system on some level in his life. Just over a week ago, on Tuesday, May 25th, another black man’s life was taken in the name of American “law and order.” George Floyd, a 26-year-old father, son, brother, friend, human being, was killed by four police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The officers were sent to question Floyd after a local business phoned the police and accused him of using a counterfeit $20 bill. Floyd had not harmed any individuals, but was met with force from the officers, who claimed that he was resistant to arrest. During the encounter, Floyd was handcuffed and pushed onto the pavement, where he was pinned down by white officer Derek Chauvin. Bystanders recorded the horrific incident, in which Chauvin aggressively held his knee against the back of Floyd’s neck, who begged “please don’t kill me” and “I can’t breathe.” Floyd was handcuffed with no way to defend himself, and yet the three other officers watched as he pleaded, begging for his life, with Chauvin for nearly nine minutes, the last three of which he was entirely unresponsive. Shortly following his death, video of the altercation was shared on social media, and has prompted outcry from millions of enraged and disheartened Americans [1].

In the days following Floyd’s death, social media platforms including Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook became consumed by conversations about police brutality and racism in America. Hashtags declaring #JusticeforFloyd and #BlackLivesMatter are trending internationally. Celebrities with millions of followers are using their status to spread awareness of the event. This includes posting organizations to donate to, petitions to sign, whom to write, and how to become a better ally to the BIPOC community. More important than presence on social media, however, is showing up in real life, which millions have done as they take to city streets in protest across the nation. Protesting began in the city of Minneapolis, where Floyd was murdered and countless other hate crimes against black Americans have been committed [2]. However, this city is not alone in its demonstrations- in fact, every major city in America, as well as international cities such as London and Amsterdam, are also voicing their anguish. The protestors are demanding: prosecution for the four officers involved in Floyd’s murder, reformation of America’s crimminal justice system (including required body cameras for responding officers and de-escalation training), defunding from law enforcement (and using that money for education/food support/housing support/etc. in impoverished communities, equal educational and laboral opportunities for POC, equal representation in politics [3]. Essentially, citizens of America are demanding that each societal, political, educational, and economic institution address their inherent racism, acknowledge how they have been (consciously or unconsciously) serving to benefit white populations, and actively work to change their systems to equally serve every American citizen.

The magnitude of the response from the American public put immense pressure on the Minneapolis municipality to act. The following day, all four officers were fired. By Friday, three days after Floyd’s death, Derek Chauvin was charged with third degree murder. Then this Wednesdy, June 3rd, Chauvin’s charge was increased to second degree murder. The second degree charge essentially acknowledges that one killed another person while behaving in a violent manner, but did not enter the encounter with the intent of murder. Chauvin was not alone at the scene. Three other officers, Lane, Keung, and Thao, watched Floyd die without intervention, and all three are now charged with abbetting to second-degree murder. Each will at most face 40 years in prison, however no one has been tried or convicted of these charges. Even if found guilty and charged with 40 years in prison, each man will eventually be released and free to live the remainder of his life, a privilege that George Floyd will never have[4, 5].

White Americans now face a pivotal choice: address the role that systematic racism plays in their lives, in the lives of black people, and strive to engage in active measures to dismantle problematic institutions; or remain ignorant, silent, and thus a part of the problem. As has been true throughout history, when addressed with the epidemic of racism, most white Americans become defensive. Statements such as “I’m not racist”, and “nothing I do will change anything anyways”, are used as excuses for lack of any other involvement, and even to defend racist behaviors. The year 2020, however, presents us with a new tool for meaningful activism: social media. Thousands of affected individuals, as part of the black community, have voiced their personal experiences and demands for change online. Moreover, many have shared ways that white Americans who want to make change can work everyday to become an ally, beginning with EDUCATION. As a white person, it is your responsibility to exit the bubble of ignorance that American society has enabled you to remain in. Read articles written by members of the black community which outline black oppression that you may have previously been unwilling to recognize. This video published by the New York Times shares the daily experiences of young black men with racial profiling, unjust police encounters, living in fear, and feeling obligated to overcompensate to make their white peers feel comfortable. Learn exactly which institutions, including educational, political, and economical, work to serve you as a white person everyday, yet do not offer the same benefits to black people. You may be shocked to learn that despite what you were led to believe by the American education systems and the media, oppression of black citizens did not simply dissipate with the Civil Rights Movement. Modern day lynchings come in the form of police brutality, and segregation in the form of redlining and gerrymandering. In February of this year, 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery, a black man, was tracked down and shot by two white men, Gregory and Travis Michael. Arbery was simply going for a run near his home in Glynn County, Georgia. Upon seeing him and the color of his skin as he ran by, Gregory and Travis Michael went after him in their truck, claiming he resembled the description of a man committing local robberies. Their ruthless and hateful pursuit resulted in two shots killing Arbery, who had nearly returned to his mom waiting at home. Gregory and Travis were arrested three months later, only AFTER video footage of the murder was publicly released. Had the murder not been filmed, an arrest likely never would have been made. Even so, the two have yet to be convicted, and are currently living freely [6].

A multitude of resources are available to expand your understanding of racial inequality. A fan of Netflix? Check out the documentary “13th”, which illustrates the blatant prejudice against black people that plagues our prison system, and what historical events shaped it to be so. Take a pause in your current bedside novel, and explore works written by black authors. So You Want to Talk About Race, by Ijeoma Olou, is a perfect starting place for individuals with questions about how racism manifests in our society and how to begin addressing it in your own life. While taking your afternoon walk or working in the garden, tune into a podcast, like NPR’s “Code Switch,” which explores how race is integrated into every aspect of American culture. Explore black artists and influencers on Instagram, like Rachel Cargle, an author, activist, and leader who shares the experiences of black women in America. She also offers a 30-day #DotheWork course, in which you are guided through daily prompts with supporting articles, videos, and activities, to begin unlearning implicit racial bias every white American has (although this course is free, I highly suggest that you donate to Rachel if you choose to participate and use the resources she dedicated time to). At the end of this article, more resources to expand your knowledge of white privilege and racial inequity will be listed.

When initially researching the horrific acts of racism that occur everyday in American society, one may feel immense guilt and shame. These emotions are absolutely necessary, because white Americans, all of us, are absolutely guilty of the perpetuation of racism. As a white person benefiting from white privilege, we are a part of the system that degrades the black community, and there should be shame felt with that. With that being said, let not these emotions deter your activism, rather, let them serve as fuel to your action.

After beginning to research racial inequity in America, there is a multitude of ways one can be an ally to the #blacklivesmatter movement. Presence on social media is a valid way to express indignation at the treatment of black Americans and spread awareness, however, this is by no means enough. Begin by sitting down and talking to members of your family and community- discussion often leads to involvement. Ask the questions that make you feel uncomfortable… Your discomfort is a good sign that it’s an area you must address. Am I racist? Do I treat POC differently than white people? What bias do I subconsciously hold? What resources am I given that BIPOC people are not? Have I remained silent in situations I should have called out a racist comment? How am I going to implement changes in my life? If you have questions regarding how to discuss racism, police brutality, and white privilege, thoughtfully ask members of the BIPOC community, and actually hear what they have to say. Now is the time to practice being an active listener. Analyze the media that you consume everyday. Are your social media feeds filled with people that mainly look like you? Do you listen only to white artists? Shop only from white-owned businesses? Read books written by only white authors? Members of the BIPOC community receive significantly less acknowledgement and reward for their achievements: so, take the time now to explore and acknowledge them.

In a few minutes time, one can easily email local police departments and your state legislature demanding reformation of law enforcement. Two tangible things to demand are: 1) require body cameras to be worn by all reporting officers, and, 2) thorough de-escalation training. In the email, simply state your name, your town of residence, and inquire about what measures they are taking to prevent any more acts of police brutality and racial profiling (and demand implementation of the two methods listed above). Even in rural Vermont communities, protests are being held to demand racial equality and justice for George Floyd. A quick Facebook search can help you find where a rally is being held near you, and you absolutely have the ability to organize a protest if you are unable to attend another. This Saturday, June 6th, a protest will be held on the Green in Chester, from 1-4 pm. Two local high school students organized the event, and have used social media to rally their peers. They have asked protestors to wear masks, remain a safe distance from one another, and bring a poster demanding the change you would like to see!

Above all, it is the job of every white American to unlearn the implicit racism and bias that our society has led us to believe is acceptable and built into our lives, every day. By continuing to willingly reap the benefits of white privilege, you are contributing to the prolongment of racial inequity. This is a process, one without an instant solution or a definitive end-goal. Attempting to use any of the resources listed below as a “quick-fix” and a way to quell your guilt is absolutely another excuse to ignore the systemic abuse of black Americans, and will not lead to change. You must open yourself up to being wrong. You must be willing to be uncomfortable. You are about to uncover lies that have been fed to you for centuries, and with that you will undoubtedly feel a pit in your stomach, knowing that you are a contributing factor. This knowledge, the tearing down of layer after layer of secret oppression built into our society, is the only way to finally free those who have remained enslaved in America for the past 200 years.

Resources:

Petitions:

Where to donate:

Email the Burlington PD:

Contact Us

Books to read:

Podcasts:

21 Podcasts That Confront Racism in America

Social Media Influencers:

@rachel.cargle
@nicolebyer
@staceyyannchin
@iamderay
@mspackyetti

THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD: America’s response and beginning steps to become an advocate and ally

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