The Death of Floyd and its Aftermath
Author: Jake Kim | Category: Society | Human Rights | Date: 06-03-2020
Recently, George Floyd was detained and killed by a group of police officers for using a counterfeit $20 bill at a store. Floyd’s death should be considered a murder, as he did not resist the officers, nor did he commit a crime deserving of a death penalty.
Many news sources that analyzed the final moments of Floyd have confirmed that he did not resist the officers in any way, shape, or form. The officers forced Floyd onto the ground and placed their knees on his neck, chest, and legs, preventing him from moving or breathing. Then, they demanded Floyd, whilst choking him, to get in the police car and maced him when he replied that he was unable to move because the officers were still on him. Not only are these acts illegal -- as Floyd was not resisting -- but they are also downright inhumane. But setting aside the morality of the officers’ actions, the fact that they kept up an illegal act against a man who showed no resistance is reason enough to consider Floyd’s death as a murder.
In addition, Floyd’s crime was of a minor degree, one deserving of imprisonment and fines at most. Floyd was reported to the police after refusing to return the products he bought using the counterfeit $20 bill. Judging from the information provided by the footages and analyses, the officers killed a man who committed a minor offense and did not resist. Therefore, the death of Floyd was an unjustified death, namely, a murder.
The riots that followed the death of Floyd are somewhat justified. Many have gone out in various major American cities in order to peacefully commemorate Floyd’s death and to put an end to the racial inequalities and standards that exist in American society. These protestors, who have no ill intentions, have been disrupted by the police, who forcefully resisted the peaceful protestors. Of course, this is because not all protestors aimed to protest peacefully due to the rage pent up by the continual oppression toward African Americans throughout American history. Also, some have showed up to the protests not in search of justice, but in search of profit in the nearby businesses, seeing the lack of police surveillance as an opportunity for illegal material gain and crime. At times, it may be hard for officers to differentiate between these groups because of the heavy commotion. But in many other instances, officers have intentionally shot the innocent, forcing protestors to retaliate, which eventually escalates to riots. In the end, the justification of the riots all lie in the intention of the protestors, as some are driven to riot, while others exploit the riots.
All in all, this country is in a messy state in terms of various aspects, including racial mistreatment. Hopefully, the racial mistreatment that still exists in this country will hastily come to an end with the protests. Throughout American history, countless African American lives have been taken for unjust reasons. Therefore, it is important to act according to the goals of the protests in order to make sure that these deaths were not in vain.
About: Jake Kim
