I can’t breathe, is the wound of racism in the United States

I can’t breathe, is the wound of racism in the United States

"I can't breathe," were George Floyd's last words,colored man killed by police in Mineapolis, USA, after a violent arrest. Knee of the effective Derek Chauvin stood on the throat of the 44-year-old for a few minutes, as he stood with his face pressed against the asphalt and asked for help. A few hours later, he would be pronounced dead at the hospital. But the tragic and last moments of the African-American were captured on video, which went viral immediately. This incident turned out to be the "last point" that filled the cup of anger of the Americans, who rose up to fight racism, this old wound that has brought a lot of suffering to the community of people of color.
"I can't breathe," became the main slogan of popular demonstrations in search of justice for the late Floyd. From Mineapolis in New York, from Washington to Chicago and over 40 American states, the protests immediately ignited, in the fullest sense of the word.
Clashes, riots, tear gas, killed, injured and many arrested. This is the panorama that was reported almost every night after May 26 in most of the territory of the United States, as the patience of the African-American community for numerous discriminations came to an end.
"I am fighting for my life, that of my children and my family. To be honest, I prefer to die today than to deal with the same situation again after 5 years ", says a protester.
There were also cases when police agents realized the importance of what had happened and joined the cause. From Minneapolis, New York to Chicago, many in uniform sat on their knees and marched with protesters in solidarity.
As demonstrations to end racial discrimination and police violence against people of color became more violent, a very negative phenomenon was emerging. Numerous criminal groups exploited these difficult moments to damage and loot numerous stores.
The intensity of the demonstrations and the violence increased day by day with the forces of order that made it almost impossible to keep the situation under control.
Thousands of people gathered in front of the White House, where there were also clashes. At one point, US President Donald Trump would move from the building to a safe bunker for special teams for fear that protesters might break the security cordon.
Numerous voices questioned his leadership. But Trump's statements were constant, sometimes on Twitter and sometimes on camera. The president demanded the suppression of protests and the use of force to neutralize those seeking justice and an end to discrimination. Shouts for incitement to violence were made by the White House chief, who threatened to mobilize the army. "If local governments or states refuse to take the necessary measures to protect the lives and property of their citizens, I will mobilize the army and solve the problem for them quickly."
President Trump even staged a force story, with his walking from the White House to a historic Church damaged during the protests. Asked by reporters if he was willing to use the army against citizens, he decided not to answer. But those statements would soon be condemned by political opponents but also opposed by Trump's own cabinet. "The option to use the military in the role of strengthening the rule of law should be seen as a last resort and used only in the most urgent and terrible situations. We are not in any of these situations right now, "said Mark Esper, the secretary of defense. Former US Secretary of Defense James Mattis has denounced President Donald Trump, saying he is deliberately seeking to divide the country. And he claimed he was outraged and horrified by the way Trump was managing the protests over the death of African-American George Floyd at the hands of the police.
"Donald Trump is the only president who is not trying to unite the American people. Instead, he divides us. We are witnessing the consequences of 3 years of deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences of 3 years without mature leadership ", he said.
Trump's statement on the use of the military against the American people also left Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speechless.
Beyond the threats of the American president, the protests continued. They were not even stopped when the authorities fired and arrested the police officer, Derek Chauvin and 3 other effectives present at the tragic event, turned into a symbol of the uprising against the injustices that are done almost every day to people of color. The Mineapolis court has filed official charges against Chauvin for second-degree murder, while for the other 3 officers they face complicity and participation in the crime. Floyd's family is unhappy with this approach to justice. They want the charge to be first-degree murder.
The family also developed a private autopsy, the result of which was this: George Floyd died of asphyxia (lack of oxygen). Doctors said the 44-year-old died from pressure on his neck and back by Mineapolis police officers during the arrest. This autopsy contradicts the previous one performed by forensic doctors, in which no evidence of "traumatic asphyxia or suffocation" was found.
Violence and murder with a racial background are common in the United States, as are protests. The African-American community hoped for an improvement in the situation under President Barack Obama's administration. But the hundred-year-old wound never closed.
"Once again, racism is endemic and systematic, and people are fed up with it. This has been going on since the founding of the United States. So it's not something new, "said analyst Dennis Etler.
With the coming to power of Donald Trump, it became even more apparent, as white extremism began to flourish, or in other words supremacists think that in the direction of the White House is a man who supports their ideology. There have been numerous cases where Trump has been reluctant and has refused to punish manifestations of these groupings, which essentially have the superiority of the white race over others.
"American society is deeply divided. There are many people who are racially motivated. They are racist, and openly express it, and this is a legacy of the confederation. In different parts of the country, you can see more Confederate flags than those in America, ”said analyst Dennis Etler.
George Floyd's case was just the tip of the iceberg, as hundreds of others like him, unarmed and doing nothing in violation of the law, were killed by police just because of their skin color. There are many initiatives to heal this old wound, the most active is that of "Black Lives Matter". But everyone is convinced that as long as there are people who fail to realize that everyone enjoys equal rights, regardless of background, skin color, or language, racism will be present in the United States. What is required is a change in the justice system, so that at least before the law everyone is equal and no crime with a racial background remains unpunished.
Written by:Refugeehome's volunteer F.P
Date:8/06/2020