Tag: racism

George Floyd- What happened and what has happened since.

Racism, a word that’s on everyone’s lips these days. It refers to a systemic and mental prejudice against a particular group based on their looks, ethnicity etc. It’s a phenomenon that’s been around for several decades, it’s the thorn by the side of humankind that has hampered our enhancement. But why now, why the sudden uproar, why bring this issue to light so dramatically.

Photo by Kelly Lacy on Pexels.com

The hotspot for this issue started in Minneapolis, USA, which has an infamous record of police brutality and racism against those of African-American origin. Even within US Minneapolis has had a blatant disregard for the rights of African Americans since the last two decades. The death of George Floyd, a Minneapolis resident was the tipping point for all this. The police were called on Floyd regarding a suspected forgery of a $20 bill, what happened next was both sickening and disheartening. Derek Chauvin, one of the officers in charge of “arresting” Floyd was seen crushing his windpipe by the pavement. He has been involved in using excessive force 20 times out of which 19 included no disciplinary action against him. His offences include pulling a gun at a couple of kids due to their Nerf gun hitting a passer-by. The kids were verbally abused and were threatened by Chauvin. They later told a news outlet that they feel the only reason they are alive is because they weren’t black. So, him killing an African-American in cold blood as he begged him to breathe isn’t too farfetched. Initially as soon as Floyd was termed dead at a local hospital, the police department issued a statement that he “suffered a medical episode while struggling with officers,” however a video posted by a passer-by by the name of Darnella Frazier showed the world the actual truth, as the body cams of the police officers involved were suddenly heavily muted and redacted. The video showed how no sympathy was shown the poor man, who had moved from Houston to start his life anew. What followed were massive protests throughout the country and then the world. The movement involved a cry for reform and justice, justice for Floyd and all the other victims and reform so that no other person suffers like them. However, the response from the government was rather lukewarm, initially whenever the Hennepin County attorney was questioned about the call for an arrest of Chauvin their spokesperson would reply as it being discussed. This sparked a major outrage which led to riots and looting within many states in the US. The subsequent looting increased to such a point that the military was asked to guard various stores to ensure the stores safety. Various celebrities have spoken up about this issue and how devastated they are, especially amongst the African-American community. The brother of George Floyd, Philonise Floyd was asked about his thoughts regarding the movement and its association with looting and breaking of stores and he said  “I want everybody to be peaceful right now, but people are torn and hurt because they’re tired of seeing black men die, constantly, over and over again,” And I understand, and I see why a lot of people doing a lot of different things around the world. I don’t want them to lash out like this,” he added. “But I can’t stop people right now, because they have pain. They have the same pain I feel. I want everything to be peaceful, but I can’t make everybody be peaceful.”  How this episode follows is for all of us to see.

Racism a common Practice

Racism is a term that is being used only when there is a need but, everyone in every walk of life does use this term to discriminate every person they meet and this discrimination does not have any religion or region but by their skin color as Martin Luther King Jr. rightly said: ” The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy”. When the civil rights moment was won in 1968 it bought a sense of relief to a black person thinking that Racism is the end but history has its play but in 2014 a black 18-year-old student, Micheal Brown was shoot down by a White Police officer and currently this is the time where the man has to measure himself as the United States is Gripping itself to its laws and the protests are erupting across the districts of the United States and all across the globe and the reason behind this simply a term that has a deep meaning ” Racism” and this term led to the death of a man named of George Floyd who was killed by a White Policeman by strangling George’s neck with his knees for about 9 minutes. This act of the white policeman has condemned by many citizens across the globe and demonstrations and protests and clashes with the police in the United States very saddening. Due to this crisis, there have been curfews in several districts in the United States and with the COVID-19 cases escalating past 6 million all over the globe and the United States being in the epicenter of this pandemic and many experts feel that due large gathering there may a large hike in the COVID-19. This is a disaster for mankind as this has violent eruptions during this pandemic crisis as there is spread of violence, clashes with police, looting and burning the stores and currently, the actions of the Civil rights movement is trending all over the internet and all the facts and related to racism is true as it is proven by everyone and by Statistics, in 2019 around 58% of people have been or felt discriminated by fellow mates or by society, but the real question here is “Whether the real heroes of the Civil rights movement would have wanted this clashes or the activities that are taking place”?

ACCORDING TO PEW RESEARCH CENTRE

A LOOK BACK TO PAST

Oppression of the black people and colored have been in the history of human civilization a long time ago and as the civilization was becoming modernized the idea of this oppression was expected to be dropped but it gained momentum and made the oppressed people fight for equal rights and this fights have been in many countries like South Africa, United States, India, Britain and in other many countries as well and in the United States it gained momentum when Rosa parks refused to give her seat to the white that resulted in starting the Civil rights movement by Martin Luther King. Jr and this became a mass movement until the Civil rights bill was passed and this idea inspired to banish the Apartheid idea in South Africa by Nelson Mandela. Martin Luther King always stood by the side of Non-Violence and this was his Philosophy until death and his inspiration behind this is Mahatma Gandhi who used the same Non-Violence for the freedom.

Martin Luther King considered the triple evil of the society like poverty, Militarism, and racism and always stood against it and proved to be true. Martin Luther King has leaven behind a legacy to win a battle using Non-Violence as a tool but is his idea is being heard and those who use violence in this situation needs to rethink about their actions as it cause good in any way, of course not it just causes spreading of hatred among all the people and this has to be stopped and if anyone wants to prove that the reason for this protests and demonstrations is equal rights then bring back the Civil rights Movement as 2.0 and recreate the Civil Rights Movement again to win this battle with Non-Violence.