A Grim Celebration
Today I would have woken up around 5 A.M. to get ready for one of the biggest days of my high school career. I’ve waited for this day to come for so long, and now that it’s here, arriving with the world in complete disarray, it leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I cannot celebrate the next chapter of my life, listen to Pomp and Circumstance, or wear my cap and gown without looking at the burning nation around me.
On May 25, officers received a call of alleged forgery from a local convenience store, Cup Foods. Shortly after, 2 officers arrived at the scene and placed the suspect, George Floyd under arrest. Following that, two more officers aided in the detainment of Mr. Floyd, escorting him to the police car. It is seen on the footage that officer Derek Chauvin had then pinned Mr. Floyd to the ground with his knee on Mr. Floyd’s neck. The officer kept his knee on Mr. Floyd for a total of eight minutes, only releasing it once paramedics have arrived.
Despite bystanders confronting officer Thao about Floyd’s unresponsiveness, officer Chauvin continued to keep him pinned down. It was only after officers had raised their call for paramedics from a code two, a non-critical response not requiring lights or sirens or traffic laws to be broken, to a code three, indicating dire emergency and critical response, that paramedics quickly arrived. It was then that George Floyd’s unresponsive body was put on a gurney. The report from the fire department stated that medics were working on an“unresponsive, pulse-less male”. He later was pronounced dead at the Hennepin Healthcare emergency room at 9:25 P.M.
This was an act of senseless violence. In no situation would a non-combative individual need to be pinned down with a knee on their neck blocking oxygen flow for eight whole minutes. The officers showed complete disregard for Mr. Floyd’s life and continued pleas for release, yelling I cant breathe! with no response or adjustment from the officer.
Officer Derek Chauvin was arrested four days following the incident, after protests erupted in Minneapolis demanding his arrest. It was later announced that he would be charged with third-degree murder, defined as murder without the intent to kill and punishable by a maximum of 25 years in prison. Additionally, Officer Chauvin was charged with second-degree manslaughter.
America has had an abhorrent history toward the treatment of non-white individuals, especially toward black Americans. Police brutality has been rampant throughout it’s history and police brutality/negligence-related deaths disproportionately affect black Americans, with a mortality rate of 2.8 times that of white Americans. Negligence and over-policing toward minority communities has caused an overwhelming distrust of the police state in America. It still continues today and won’t end until major reform ensues.
What does the road to reform look like? How can we dismantle a system that was never created to protect minorities, but to police them and penalize them at far higher rates than their white counterparts?
These questions have been asked for decades, longer than I was born, and yet there still hasn’t been major reform since it was first asked.
What can white / non-black people of color do about the injustices that black Americans face daily?
We can listen.
Far too often white bodies dominate the conversation about reforming the police state — overpowering black, unheard voices. Our job as non-black Americans is to listen to their struggles and to amplify, not cancel out, their voices. We can urge our senators to strive for police accountability. What we can’t do is stay silent.
Together we can create the change that is long overdue in this county.
This link leads to a website where you can donate to the relief fund of the Minnesota protesters, providing aid for bail and legal help. Additionally, there are other funds that you are able to donate to once you visit the site.
To my fellow graduates,
Although we cannot graduate traditionally, the achievement still is valid. As we graduate and spend our summer staying indoors and urging for change, I implore you to constantly speak about the racial disparities in America with the people you love — to anybody. The more we talk about it the more awareness we can spread. Staying silent isn’t an option. As we’re about to enter a new world, stay firm in what you believe and never stop being selfless, fighting for others even when it doesn’t benefit you. Our generation will see change, but only if we work together to create a peaceful, fair America.
Here’s to change.
BLACK LIVES MATTER
