In May 2020, protests arose around the country, demanding justice for the deaths of George Floyd and many other Black American citizens who were victims of police brutality. The disperse of protests brought a powerful movement formed by advocates of tolerance through social media platforms, powerful leaders, businesses, and politicians, whose central issue was racial equality. The amount of attention the protest has received is intense, it has even received recognition from executives.
Reflecting on that death of a single black man, we can recognize previous patterns of racist occurings. George Floyd’s death was not the only instance of racism in modern society, but it was the leading event that highlighted past injustices, forcing us to acknowledge them. Memorials and tributes of this specific event catalyzed the nationwide movement we actively support as Black Lives Matter.
How far has society come with the BLM Movement?
Officer Derek Chauvin, the man who killed George Floyd, was arrested and charged with murder and manslaughter. All other officers have been fired and charged with aiding and abetting second- degree murder and manslaughter.
The Mayor of Louisville fired the police chief Steve Conrad after the shooting of David McAtee resulting in fatality. Also, the mayor suspended the use of “no-knock” warrants due to the murder of Breonna Taylor Fischer.
In California, the LAPD has suffered $100-$150 million in cuts, instead using that money to provide better education and health.
However, the largest change yet was in the hometown of the killing of George Floyd, Minneapolis. The ban of police chokeholds, and are forced to intervene anytime they see another police officer using unauthorized force. The mayor believes in dismantling the police system and replacing it with a community based approach.
The mayor in NYC, redirected the police department’s funding towards social services for the youth. And he repealed 50-a which now allows New York to see police officers performance history
In Vermont, the Statehouse is pitching a plan for police reform in the state, and are looking into expand who can enter law enforcement and how they’re trained
In North Carolina, the NCACP is developing a mission to guide police agencies to improve the quality of policing in the state, the NC association of Chiefs of Police released a letter to the public highlighting the importance of a collaborative relationship with the citizens in the community and the police department trying to protect them.
In Jacksonville, their mayor announced that one of the first confederate monuments was removed from Hemming Park, it would be renamed to honor Jacksonville native James Weldon Johnson, the composer of the Black National Anthem.
Several states began to listen to the citizens who were fighting for a change to better the world, giving the people what they needed and deserved, a safer place for them to call their home
Juneteenth was celebrated, several “companies throughout the country stepped up this year to declare their own recognition of the day, planning educational programming for staff or giving them the day off to celebrate in whatever way they saw fit.”
It is crucial to remember that you have a voice. Advocate for what you believe in and fight for the change you strive to see happen.