SPEAK OUT AND END RACISM

If you are not furious about what happened to George Floyd at the hands of merciless police officers, then you might as well just keep on scrolling and go read something else because there is nothing here for you. Everyone else who believes this was an absolute atrocity, it is good to know you have a soul. 

As a Latin woman, I guess I am in the category of being a minority, but it still doesn't change the fact that I am a white woman, who recognizes I have a certain level of privilege.  And no, I am not referring to economic privilege.  I am referring to the fact for example, that I don't have to have "the talk" with my son, like my black mom friends do, about what happens if he gets stopped by a police officer.  Granted, while everyone must be respectful and cautious with the law, it is a FACT that a black man in America is not afforded that same privilege of talking back or asking questions in such a situation.  Immediately, the hostility and suspicions begin.  Not in all cases, but lately (thanks to cell phone videos) we see what has really been happening for so long. 

Below is a very poignant write up being circulated on social media:  ( I Can)

I’m broken. I have privilege as a white person because I can do all of these things without thinking about my safety:

I can go birding (#ChristianCooper)
I can go jogging (#AmaudArbery)
I can relax in the comfort of my own home (#BothemSean and #AtatianaJefferson)
I can ask for help after being in a car crash (#JonathanFerrell and #RenishaMcBride)
I can have a cellphone (#StephonClark)
I can leave a party to get to safety (#JordanEdwards)
I can play loud music (#JordanDavis)
I can sell CDs (#AltonSterling)
I can sleep (#AiyanaJones)
I can walk from the corner store (#MikeBrown)
I can play cops and robbers (#TamirRice)
I can go to church (#Charleston9)
I can walk home with Skittles (#TrayvonMartin)
I can hold a hair brush while leaving my own bachelor party (#SeanBell)
I can party on New Years (#OscarGrant)
I can get a normal traffic ticket (#SandraBland)
I can lawfully carry a weapon (#PhilandoCastile)
I can break down on a public road with car problems (#CoreyJones)
I can shop at Walmart (#JohnCrawford)
I can have a disabled vehicle (#TerrenceCrutcher)
I can read a book in my own car (#KeithScott)
I can be a 10yr old walking with our grandfather (#CliffordGlover)
I can decorate for a party (#ClaudeReese)
I can ask a cop a question (#RandyEvans)
I can cash a check in peace (#YvonneSmallwood)
I can take out my wallet (#AmadouDiallo)
I can run (#WalterScott)
I can breathe (#EricGarner)
I can live (#FreddieGray)
I CAN BE ARRESTED WITHOUT THE FEAR OF BEING MURDERED (#GeorgeFloyd)

And no, it doesn't matter if I am Hispanic, if I am Jewish, Catholic, Grey, Gay, Straight, whatever, the fact is, if you are white in America, you have a certain level of privilege that is not always afforded to the black community. That is reality...still...in 2020.

So, who was George Floyd and how has his death taken the black community to the tipping point and wreaked havoc in so many communities around the Country? And why does it matter? There is so much to discuss here.  Well, let me start by saying that George Floyd was a 46-year old man, who was arrested on May 25, 2020 in Minneapolis, for allegedly trying to pass a counterfeit $20 bill at a store (either knowingly or not) during a time where he lost his job due to Covid-19. Floyd was brutally murdered by the Minneapolis police officer, who had him pinned down with his knee on Floyd's neck, while other officers looked on doing nothing. The officer callously kept the pressure on Floyd's neck, while he casually kept his hand in his pocket, as he stared into the camera of numerous cell phones. A crowd gathered as they recorded on their mobile devices what was happening and were yelling to please let Floyd stand up. The cries of "I can't breathe" were heard once again, reminiscent of Eric Garner, another incident where we watched an unarmed black person die at the hands of relentless police officers, like countless others.

This article is not being written to bash police officers in anyway. There are many good cops, who put their lives on the line every single day to keep our communities safe. However, there are a few who use their badge as a weapon to unleash their racist mentality on a community they resent.  It is this anger and resentment that I will try to breakdown.

Who was George Floyd? He was a black man, known to his friends and family by the nickname of  "gentle giant."  He was 6 feet, 6 inches, and in high school he was a star tight end for Jack Yates High School and played in the 1992 state championship game in the Houston Astrodome. He may or may not have been guilty of the crime he was accused of (forgery/passing a fraudulent bill.) He was also in trouble with the law years ago, not that it matters in this case. Floyd was working for the last five years as security for a local restaurant (which coincidentally, or not,) is where the officer who killed him worked as well, moonlighting as a security officer at the outside of the club, while Floyd worked inside.  It is yet unknown if the two knew each other personally.  Regardless of his past, or whether he was guilty or not. There is NO justification for the slow and brutal murder of Floyd on the streets of his own neighborhood.  That police officer kept his knee on Floyd's neck even after he was told that there was no longer a pulse on Floyd.  There are also videos surfacing showing how no EMT actually arrived on the scene.  They were cops with bullet proof vest on, who placed Floyd directly into an ambulance without attempting any resuscitation on the spot.  When George Floyd was taken away, his body was already limp and had no pulse.

Inexcusable.

Later, the authorities declared that Floyd had died at the hospital like almost half an hour after the knee incident and the autopsy (days later) claimed that he had previous medical conditions, which could have contributed to his death.  Absolutely absurd!

And now, we are being distracted by the rioting and looting going on in Minneapolis and other pockets of our Country right now. What started out as protest for George Floyd's death, quickly evolved into rioting. Rioting is obviously not the answer and there are many innocent people getting caught in the crossfire. There are always people who just loot and instigate problems and not focusing on what the real protest should be about...CHANGE.  However, with that said, we have to acknowledge that there is an anger that has been bubbling for way too long and it has just literally exploded. 


When they tried to protest quietly and kneel at NFL games, they were criticized. When they wore t-shirts, that said "I can't breathe," they were ignored; when they gave speeches at award ceremonies talking about the inequalities they face, it once again, fell upon deaf ears. And now here we are!  The black community's cry for help and empathy are not being heard. In fact, it feels as if they are completely being ignored...intentionally. The truth is the black community has had enough and rightly so. 

In my opinion, this Country has never truly been and example of “shining.” We are a hypocritical nation living under the pretense of “greatness” and equality. While, granted, this is the land of the "free" and the land of opportunity, it is also a country that was founded on pillaging native American Indians and later enslaving African-Americans, as if they were property. And years and years of unwarranted wars, where we went in under the pretense as being the “saviors” of the world.  There is no getting back to "normal" or great" because it never was.  It is way passed time to reflect if we want to maintain a free and peaceful nation.  

The fact remains that GEORGE FLOYD was brutally murdered at the hands of angry, racist police officers, who chose to stand by and watch, while their fellow officer slowly pressed the life out of Floyd. Pure evil. The police officer who literally killed Floyd with his knee had been written up more than a dozen times before during his career and there were never any consequences for him.  He was recently arrested as a result of public outcry and relentless protesting. The other officers have yet to be charged, as of the time this article was written.

We must stand up for what is right.  We have to speak up for those who can longer speak and fight for justice! George Floyd should be alive today! His death has sparked something in this Country that has not been seen in many, many years.  Floyd's untimely death was a catalyst for change.

I often wonder though, how in the world we can we stop racism when there is such division in our own Country at every level.  Recently, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, promoted a video on Twitter that opens with "Cowboys for Trump" founder, Couy Griffin, declaring that “the only good Democrat is a dead Democrat.” Griffin made these comments at a New Mexico church while rallying a crowd to protest stay at home guidelines and amid the Corona virus and the POTUS promoted it via his Twitter. Then days later, as a result of the rioting, President Trump, once again, took to Twitter to condemn Minneapolis demonstrators as “THUGS,” threaten military intervention and predict local looting could lead to “shooting,” prompting the social-media company to take the unprecedented step of limiting the public’s ability to view and share his tweet. He stated, "Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts" 

Imagine that, the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES promoting this kind of rhetoric.  How in the world are we suppose to find any real guidance, when the "leader" of this Country is constantly bashing, ridiculing or firing anyone who disagrees with him or who is different than him. His language is conducive to instigating more violence!  

There are also videos surfacing of white agitators at riot locations, police officers shooting rubber bullets at journalists and peaceful protestors and an NYPD officer pushing a woman with full force onto the ground, when she was simply standing and verbally protesting (not armed.) {Note: she ended up in the hospital} and also a CNN reporter, who happens to be black, was arrested (detained) on live TV.  It is all too surreal and seems very Orwellian at the same time.

What I do know is that Peace and Chaos cannot co-exist.

Honestly, I think it is going to fall on us - We the People!  We have to become social justice warriors and speak up and take action when we are witness to such hatred and racism. I also believe it is very important that the local leaders of this Nation have to step up and stop the craziness going on within their own cities.  If things continue on this course, where looting and vandalism, prevail, the mission of protesting and fighting for justice and equality will be lost.


We also have to take our power and teach our children and grandchildren that racism is wrong at every and any level!  We must empower the youth of today to stand up and speak out peacefully and productively for change, as they will be the leaders of tomorrow.

This is our time to make things right...to teach our children to be kind, loving, empathetic, compassionate and tolerant of all human beings. 

"We have to be held accountable for what is happening in this country. What happened to George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery - and countless others - can not go without justice. Please talk to your children about racism, privilege, bigotry and hate. If you aren’t talking to them, someone else is." 

- Reese Witherspoon

There will always be differences, that is what makes us each special, but not to the point where it should cost someone their life.

Silence is complicity and education is key! We MUST speak out and end racism!

If you want to make a difference and don't know what to do or say, you can always use your economic resources to help by taking action here!

 

TAKE ACTION!!!

Blogger: 

Lissette Rozenblat