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On Monday, May 25, 2020, 46-year old George Floyd was killed by four law enforcement officers — Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao. In the days following, Americans watched a video demonstrating the inhumane nature in which George Floyd was held to the ground, unable to move due to a law enforcement officer, Derick Chauvin, forcing his knee on George Floyd’s neck. Americans listened as George Floyd said to Chauvin, “Please don’t kill me” and “I can’t breathe, officer.” Likewise, the American population watched George Floyd’s body become limp and lifeless, due to Derick Chauvin who insisted both on physically dominating George Floyd and calling him a “tough guy” in the process.

Though only one police officer was seen as the primary participant in this murder, kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, it is apparent that his colleagues — Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao — were aware of the behavior that occurred after each of them assisted in not only handcuffing George Floyd, but also forcing him to the ground. In the video, we watch as a fellow officer, Tou Thao, ultimately defends the actions of Derek Chauvin when confronted by bystanders. Never in the video does Tou Thao tell Chauvin to release his body from George Floyd’s neck. Instead, Tou Thao stood nearby, looking menacingly at bystanders who urged Chauvin to remove his knee from George Floyd’s neck. Unfortunately, this event demonstrates an age-old practice of law enforcement officers not only brutalizing and killing unarmed Black men, women and children, but also allowing their colleagues to openly participate in these practices.

The killing and brutalization of unarmed Black People in America has proven to be as American as the image of “Uncle Sam.” During May, America has witnessed the deaths of Breonna Taylor, Sean Reed and George Floyd, who were all unarmed at the times of their deaths. Likewise, Americans have witnessed the overwhelming amount of brutality towards Black Americans during the month of May. On May 2, 2020, America watched as 33-year-old Donni Wright was assaulted and belittled by a plain-clothed police officer, Francisco Garcia, during a social distancing check that incited arrest of two individuals in Manhattan’s East Village. The abusive nature of Donni Wright’s assault and the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor demonstrate a disturbing aversion towards Black Americans on behalf of police officers.

This aversion towards Black Americans is not only demonstrated in how police officers interact with Black Americans, but also their reactions to white Americans. Over the course of the last two months, Black Americans have watched as white Americans stormed streets, stores and courthouses, demanding that states reopen in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Americans witnessed their armed white counterparts, due to frustrations of not being able to frequent shops and restaurants, scream in the faces of police officers with no repercussions. During peaceful protests following the death of George Floyd, citizens of Minneapolis, Minnesota, were met with tear gas and obstructions set in place by law enforcement officers. This has prompted days-long protests and community tensions between the citizens of Minneapolis and the leaders of the community. These apparent racist tactics demonstrate that while seeking justice, Black Americans are not awarded the same treatment as their white counterparts, who are allowed to demonstrate physical harm for frivolous desires.

This disdain is not a new concept. Black Americans have struggled to maintain our population against heinous crimes prompted by hate and racism upon being enslaved in America. Having previously lived in fear of the Ku Klux Klan, Black Americans have now found themselves in fear of those who swore to “protect.” However, the actions of several law enforcement officers demonstrate to the American people that those awarded badges and guns choose to hyper-criminalize the Black population.

This is not a Black and white issue. It is an ever-lasting struggle between the institution of policing and the Black Lives that are in jeopardy everyday. Trump’s America has demonstrated through actions of ignorance, hatred and violence that America has maintained its slave-era tradition of the complete disregard and disrespect of the Black body. Trump’s America has objectified those within the Minneapolis, Minnesota, Black community as “thugs,” while calling armed white protestors “fine people.” The hypocrisy and blatant racism demonstrated by this President and law enforcement are outstanding. Yet, this generation of adults is willing and able to address these injustices in order to establish equity amongst the races and remove this infamous American tradition.

Jasmine B. King

Writing since February 2022 · 1 story contributed