The George Floyd Protests: A Nationwide Movement for Justice
The Death of George Floyd
The George Floyd protest movement began hours after his murder as bystander video and word of mouth began to spread. The police killing of George Floyd sparked widespread protests and rekindled the Black Lives Matter movement. Since the death of Mr Floyd protests have erupted in at least 140 cities across the United States and the National Guard has been activated.George Floyd was killed on May 25, 2020, after being arrested by Minneapolis police officers for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 bill. Floyd was handcuffed and pinned to the ground by three officers, while a fourth officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes. Floyd repeatedly said that he could not breathe, but Chauvin did not remove his knee. Floyd eventually became unresponsive and died at the scene.
The killing of George Floyd was captured on video by a bystander. The video quickly went viral on social media, sparking outrage and protests across the country. The protests were initially focused on Minneapolis, but they quickly spread to other cities and towns across the United States. The protests were largely peaceful, but there were some instances of violence and looting.
The Demands of the Protesters
The protesters had a number of demands, including the arrest and prosecution of the officers involved in Floyd's death, as well as broader reforms to the criminal justice system. The protesters also called for an end to police brutality and racial profiling.The protests had a significant impact on the national conversation about race and policing. The protests forced elected officials to address the issue of police brutality and racial profiling. The protests also led to a number of changes in police departments across the country, including the adoption of new use-of-force policies and the creation of civilian oversight boards.
Comments