George Floyd and Minneapolis

Thumbnail hoto by Koshu Kunii on Unsplash

"High tensions in U.S. as ethnic clashes continue; security forces fire on crowds on backdrop of 100,000 dead, right-wing terrorism, and rampant street executions of minorities. Sparks fears of instability and war."

From the Twitter profile Anonymous, @YourAnonCentral

If we were watching the series of events that unfolded in Minneapolis yesterday in any other part of the world, isn't this how we'd report it?

I found myself on Twitter last night watching the events in Minneapolis. Finally watched the full video of the murder of George Floyd as well. So disgusting and disturbing, and yet, so familiar and normal. If you haven't watched it, I encourage you to. Yes, it's horrible, but it's indicative of the rancid behavior that happens in American streets every day by those who are sworn to serve and protect. No, I'm not going to follow that statement up with "but of course there are tons of good...." Nope. Full stop. You can't face a problem head on when you're constantly trying to put blush on it
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I also watched the video of the mayor of Minneapolis. He talks a good game, but his words ring exceptionally hollow if there is not a push, starting with him, to ask for justice and charges being brought upon all the officers involved, with intent to prosecute to the full extent of the law. Them losing their job isn't nearly enough. and we saw that in the reaction of the communities of Minneapolis yesterday afternoon and evening.

I will say that the mayor hit the nail on the head when he said

"Being black in America should not be a death sentence."

~ Jacob Frey, Mayor of Minneapolis

This is why a situation like what happened with Amy Cooper is not ok, and why apologies ring hollow. She knew what warning her words offered to the man in the park "fuck with me, and you might end up dead on this ground. It only takes one phone call." Not much different from warnings offered in the 50's or 60's...right? I wonder if she was raised on stories of Emmett Till like I was.

I then noticed that here in Chicago, arrests for violations of social distancing occurred in almost exclusively south and west side communities, and that nearly all of the arrests made were of black people. It's sad that that's exactly what critics said would happen. When talking race in America, you can pretty much draw conclusions on how a story will end, which is unfortunate, and maddening, and depressing, all wrapped up in one.

Finally, whenever the hashtag #blacklivesmatter becomes prominent in social media, it's quickly followed by the hashtag all lives matter, which is another gross form of suppression all its own. Another attempt to shout down the voices of black people.

Just another typical American story.