George Floyd’s murder is the result of pervasive, systemic racism that has denied and stripped Black Americans of their rights for generations. #BlackLivesMatter
His death is a tragedy but it is not a surprise. Being killed by police violence is one of the leading causes of death for young Black men in America.
Despite video evidence, it took four days and massive public demonstrations for George Floyd’s killer to be arrested. This is a travesty but not a surprise. Just last week we watched as Ahmaud Arbery’s killers were finally prosecuted, only after video of his lyching went viral.
And while the 3 police officers complicit in George Floyd’s death remain free, a Black CNN reporter was arrested this morning for reporting on the riots. This is not a surprise. Black Americans are incarcerated at 5 times the rate of White Americans.
The same systems of racial injustice and profiling that are a death sentence for Black people in America have allowed white Americans to get off scot free for generations. We need urgent change.
We need vast criminal justice reform. We need to dismantle the structures of systemic racism and racial oppression that exist at the foundation of our country. We cannot wait.
We will not have justice until we root out the insidious, systemic racism that pervades our society. We cannot just vote. We need to be on the frontlines in demanding change. This is especially true for those of us in positions of power.
