Across America, people have taken to the streets to protest police brutality, and a system that routinely fails to hold anybody accountable for the violence perpetrated against black men in particular.

You could point to a number of recent killings of black people at the hands of law enforcement as catalysts for the protests, but it is the murder of George Floyd that really lit the match.

On May 25, Floyd died after a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck for nine minutes, during which Floyd repeatedly complained that he could not breathe.

If you haven’t yet seen the footage, it is disturbing viewing, but it’s necessary in order to understand the anger that has swept America, and the world.

The New York Times “has reconstructed the death of George Floyd on May 25. Security footage, witness videos and official documents show how a series of actions by officers turned fatal.”

A warning that it does contain scenes of graphic violence:

Now consider that Chauvin, who has been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, had 18 prior complaints filed against him with the Minneapolis Police Department’s Internal Affairs.

Again from the New York Times:

In Minneapolis, a city heralded for its progressive politics, pretty parks and robust employment, the racial divide runs deep. From education to wages, African-Americans are at a disadvantage, graduating at much lower rates and earning about one-third less than white residents.

And while black residents account for about 20 percent of the city’s population, Police Department data shows they are more likely to be pulled over, arrested and have force used against them than white residents. And black people accounted for more than 60 percent of the victims in Minneapolis police shootings from late 2009 through May 2019, data shows.

When there was a civilian review board to field the complaints, it would recommend discipline, but the police chief at the time would often refuse to impose it, said [Dave Bicking, a board member of Communities United Against Police Brutality], who served on the board.

When Colin Kaepernick took a knee, he was called a dog, and worse, by America’s president, and nothing changed.

Peaceful protest didn’t work, and now enough is enough.

Get angry about George Floyd, and get angry about Collins Khosa and what’s happening here at home, too.

[source:nytimes]