BLACK LIVES MATTER – I CAN’T BREATHE - DEFUND POLICE – BATTLE CRIES BURNT US
BLACK LIVES
MATTER – I CAN’T BREATHE
- DEFUND POLICE – BATTLE CRIES BURNT US
These are the battle cries of
protesters/rioters after the most horrible racist murder of George Floyds in
the hands of a white police officer on the 25th May 2020.
“Black Lives Matter” had gained wide acceptance amongst the
US Citizens.
On closure and careful scrutiny in a calm and unbiased and
unemotional state of mind, “Black Lives Matter” sounds like racist call of
black supremacy. “All Lives Matter” will be non-discriminatory doing justice to
all American Citizens which of course include Blacks – not specially Blacks
like the now famous battle cry of “Black Lives Matter” after the tragic murder
of “Gentle Giant” George Floyd.
“Black Lives Matter” should not lead to a situation like “No
Other Lives Matter”.
Brutal Racial Action of one 44 year old White Minneapolis
Police Officer Derek Chauvin who handcuffed 46 year old George Floyd and laid
him on the ground and knelt on his neck for more than 9 minutes in spite of
George Floyd repeatedly pleading to the officer “I can’t breathe” had resulted
in his death. Initial denial as usual of this horrible homicide by the police
was shattered by video recording the entire events by one bystander which had
been heavily circulated, triggering violent protests and sparking global
outrage.
The video recording the ‘racial murder’ of Floyd, carefully
documented by 17 year-old Darnella Frazier using her cell phone exposed white
America to the reality of, in essence,
the police racial violence that blacks and people of colour in the US have
decried since long. God forbids - Let this not lead to ‘White America Vs Black America’.
Let us know what triggered the police to arrest George
Floyd.
On 25th May 2020 around 8 pm, Floyd bought
cigarettes with $20 bill at a grocery store in Powderhorn Park neighborhood of
Minneapolis and the store clerk, on detecting the bill obviously being fake,
had demanded the return of cigarettes, but, Floyd refused to oblige and the
police was called by the store clerk reporting that Floyd had passed fake bills
and was awfully drunk and not in control of himself. Police on arrival had
acted rudely and unprofessionally resulting in Floyd’s death as described
above.
One Racial Act of Police had made George Floyd an Icon, a
Hero like Martin Luther King over night.
George
Floyd was nicknamed as ‘GENTLE GIANT’, but, his Profile reads Like A Career Criminal.
George Floyd, father of 3 sons and 2
daughters, moved to Minneapolis in 2014 leaving his family at Houston - after
being released from prison in Houston, Texas, for aggravated robbery. Floyd has
more than a decade-old criminal history at the time of the arrest and went to
jail for atleast 5 times. He was the ring leader of a violent home invasion and
was sentenced to 10 months in state jail for possession of cocaine in a
December 2005. He had previously been sentenced to 8 months from the same
offense during October 2002. He worked as a bouncer at a local restaurant and
was a driver as well. But, due to Corona Lockdown, he was jobless at
Minneapolis.
To be fair to Floyd, he was a good football player and served as team
co-captain in 1981. Following
his collegiate career, Floyd played four years (1983-86) for the National
Football League’s New York Jets after being a fourth-round draft choice by the
organization. Floyd taught and coached at Bellevue High School and Boone
County High School before becoming assistant principal at Boone County in
Florence, Ky. Floyd was very involved with his community, serving as a deacon
and treasurer at Zion Baptist Church. But, this sportsman’s spirit had
overshadowed in his later years of life which had earned him a name like a
career criminal and he was no more a ‘Gentle Giant’ to boast over.
Hence, ‘Career or Character’ No matter – became the mood of
America from the 25th May to June 10 with violent protests, riots,
looting, burning of police station/church and stores – killing of innocent
people.
The visuals showing the burning down of
Minneapolis Police Station and St. John’s Episcopal
Church, historic church next to the White House, are horrible and it
cannot be justified by the so-called peaceful protestors who had turned into
rioters.
A feeble voice from some people of
Minneapolis condemning the violence is worth quoting: “What else is
indisputable is that the burned out buildings and the violence that has been
set upon other innocents is equally heinous. No one thinks it is wrong to
protest against a police officer who had no regard for human life, but to tar
all police is just plain wrong.”
Minneapolis has 64% white and 19% black – but the city had responded
violently and there were voices aired to ‘defund the police’ as well at that place.
“Tolerance to Riots Did not Matter” mentality – if allowed
to capture the mood of the people of Minneapolis – will lead to more breaches
of violence, destructions, and lootings.
47 killed and more than 200 wounded since George Floyd’s
death and many statues in US were pulled down by mob and pushed into the
streams to show their anger and agony. Pulling down of Statues had witnessed in
UK as well which had prompted Boris Johnson to come out with a statement that “it
is clear that the protests have been sadly hijacked by extremes intent on
violence. We cannot now try to edit or censor our past. We cannot pretend to
have a different history. The statues in our cities and towns were put up by
previous generations. They had different perspectives, different understandings
of right and wrong. But those statues teach us about our past. To tear them
down would be to lie about our history, and impoverish the education of
generations to come.”
“Antifa”
(Anti-fascists) group had infiltrated into the protests leading to violence,
looting and shooting and burning of police station and even church. This had
forced Trump to tweet that ‘when the looting starts, the shooting starts’.
American Antifa movement began in the 1980s and this dormant group became very
vociferous and violent after the rise of Donald Trump. Antifa is supporting the
Democratic Presidential Candidate Joe Biden who is opposing Trump in the forth coming November election.
To counter this Antifa, there is another equally violent
group called ‘Alt-right’ (Alternative Right) – a white nationalist movement
which is supportive of Donald Trump.
Due to the November Presidential Election, any untoward
incident is becoming increasingly politically surcharged and truth becomes the
casualty in the din of political debates and discussions.
It was reported that approximately 50 % of Americans are more
troubled by Police Actions in killing George Floyd than by violence at protests
and an overwhelming majority – 80% feel that the country is spiraling out of
control. Sensing the mood of the American people, Joe Biden perhaps might have met
the family members of Floyd in Houston, Texas to convey his condolences. To counter
Biden, Donald Trump is recommending the ban of Antifa movement which is supporting
Biden.
Further, “Ban Alt-Right as well” – was heard to counter
Trump’s call to ban ‘Antifa. America had become divided into more political
camps – leading to a disturbing mindset situation like – “Peaceful Lives No
Matter” which is not good for the progress and image of the nation.
Instead of ‘I can’t breathe’, it would be ideal if ‘All
should breathe’ is accepted and agreed upon.
Defund Police will create more problem than solution, if
implemented due to conflicting political ambitions and interests. Law and Order
will suffer and ordinary peace loving Americans cannot feel safe in such a
scenario. The alternative best course will be to reform the police forces to
act humanely and dispassionately.
In fine, it is a fact that America had overreacted and the
history will record them as Black Days Incidents.
All Lives Matter, All should breathe Matter and Police
Reforms Matter – may bring peace and prosperity to America in the days to come.
THINK AMERICA THINK !
LET THERE BE JUSTICE TO ALL AND INJUSTICE TO NONE!
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