George Floyd

George Floyd

Article by: Maria Razzak

“I can’t breathe,” gasped George Floyd on Monday, May 25, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. George was accused of forgery and pulled over by four police officers. He was taken onto the road and handcuffed near his vehicle. In the course of this article, this piece will speak of who George Floyd was, the arrest, and the need for calmer protests.

Who was George Floyd? George was a 46-year-old man born in Fayetteville, North Carolina and raised in Houston, Texas. George went to Yates High School where he played basketball and football. He worked as a security guard in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he was arrested. George had two daughters, ages six and twenty-two, who were currently in Houston, Texas when their father died.

Arrested on May 25, 2020, Floyd was accused of forgery. He was arrested by Officer Derek Chauvin along with three other back-ups. Despite being handcuffed and not resisting against the police, George was thrown to the ground. Officer Chauvin then pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck. Floyd claimed that he couldn’t breathe, and so did bystanders watching. However, officer Chauvin did not ease his knee. After approximately nine minutes, George passed away, due to a shortage of breath. The onlooking audience recorded this violent incident, and this disturbing video spread over media platforms rapidly.

After many people have heard about this conflict, protests have started. There is no doubt in the fact that protesting is the right thing to do, but if we are protesting against violence, we must not create it ourselves. Starting fires, blowing up police cars, robbing shops-this is not right either. Yes, people have the right to be mad about this injustice, but creating even more violence is not the right thing to do. We should protest in a way that doesn’t harm others.

In conclusion, these events had major impacts on the nation and there were protests in response to the police brutality. This is the story of 46-year old George Floyd, how he was arrested, and American reactions. Additionally, recent events have forced America to face the reality of racial tensions within the nation. This is happening during a pandemic, so if you are amongst the protesters, make sure to stay safe!