Minneapolis protesters spoke out in interviews, saying looting and violence is not being done in the name of George Floyd
Protesters in Minneapolis have condemned as “opportunistic” looting and violence taking place in cities across the US, saying it is not being done in the name of George Floyd, the 46-year-old African American man who was killed during an arrest this week.
The governor says Minneapolis is 'under assault'. Who is behind the protests? Read more
A police officer was charged with murder on Friday but Saturday night again saw widespread violence and unrest. In Minneapolis, some protesters spoke out in interviews with CNN, footage of which spread swiftly online.
In one interview, a man who did not give his name addressed looters directly, saying: “Something is wrong with you.”
He said: “This is what I’ve got to say to the people who are destroying things. If you really feel like you have to take an opportunity, like if you’re going to be opportunistic, something is wrong with you.
“If you cannot stand up and fight the good fight and you want to be a cheater and go ahead and take what we’re trying to do, something is wrong with you. Because what we’re trying to do is stand up for the basic right of humanity. And that’s what we’re trying to do and we’re trying to do in a peaceful way.”
He added: “We do not want to go through this any more. OK? I want to be able to go in a white neighbourhood and feel safe. I want to be able, when a cop is driving behind me, I don’t have to clench and be tense, OK?
“I want to be able just to be free and not have to think about every step I take because at the end of the day, being black is a crime. At the end of the day, being born black is a crime to them and I don’t understand why because we’re all humans and that’s sickening.”
Another protester said demonstrations staged in Floyd’s name were peaceful.
“I don’t think the looting and rioting is being done in George Floyd’s name,” he said. “What’s being done in George Floyd’s name is this type of gathering right now and we’re going to try to keep this peace and morale the way it is.
“Our goal tonight is to keep the energy high and the tension low, we’re going to keep that up.”
From the White House, Donald Trump has tweeted remarks interpreted as threatening protesters and claimed the demonstrations have been taken over by political agitators.
Joe Biden, his presumptive opponent at the polls in November, has spoken in support of peaceful protest.
On Sunday, mayors of cities affected by the violence voiced similar sentiments.
Keisha Lance Bottoms, the Democratic mayor of Atlanta, told CBS’s Face the Nation: “I think that there is a place in America for peaceful protest, and we know that peaceful protests have had a history of changing things in this country.
“But it has to be organised and it has to be for a purpose. And when you have violent eruptions like we’ve seen across America, then we lose sight of even what we are talking about.”
vone86 on May 31st, 2020 at 19:47 UTC »
Finally. See these actual protesters get it, all the looting of innocent by standers and destruction of random innocent people's livelihood only hurts the message they want to get across. It's a righteous message and worthy. Why tarnish it by destroying innocent businesses and looting a target and hurting random innocent people.
The video of the San Jose "protesters" on the freeway smashing cars trying to drag random motorists out of their cars was disturbing. I mean they poured onto a freeway stopped traffic then used crowbars etc. to smash up motorists cars. That's not a protest; that is animalistic unnecessary violence that hurts the cause and will cause more wasteful death.
MSAPIOPsych on May 31st, 2020 at 19:14 UTC »
A great example of giving a message without damage, violence, or vandalism; to do so peacefully.
BigDads on May 31st, 2020 at 18:44 UTC »
What is the Solution?
The past few weeks have re-kindled the masses perceptions of extreme injustice towards black people. While no one has forgotten the issues we face, the wrongful and disgusting murder of George Floyd, brought this discussion back into the limelight. As I sit here before my TV, a 22-year-old biracial graduate student, I am confronted with media members asking the same question in over and over. That question being “What is the Solution”? What is the solution to the mass injustices committed by police towards black individuals in this country? While I am no expert in this matter, I do believe this question should be contemplated collectively and tackled swiftly with tact and foresight. The protests have shown the world, black people and their allies alike will no longer stand for police brutality. PERIOD. So, what is the solution? I do not know the answer, but I can provide a stab at a few things which can be done.
• Universal Standard Training: Police officers currently attend police academy prior to becoming an officer. While many of these academies provide similar training, they vary in methodology and situational approach to force and confrontation management strategies. I believe we have and can demand a higher standard for police officer training. Potentially one by which all officers to be, must complete a universal standard training (consistent throughout all 50 states) to reduce situational discrepancies, in addition to their local and state required training. If a lawyer goes through numerous years of training to understand the laws, why can’t we can demand a higher standard for officers of which who enforce these laws, and typically after only a few weeks of training comparatively.
• Licensing: Officers should be required to hold a license to be allowed to be a police officer. Doctors, lawyers and many other professional require licenses, why can’t police officers? A license for officers would do numerous things. First, a license would show that an officer is competent and has completed all trainings required and is aware of proper conduct in addition to one’s associated accountability on duty. If an officer were found in breach of policy or the professional conduct during duty, they could risk their license being revoked altogether. Thus, preventing them from being an officer again. This results in individual accountability and prevents officers from being fired by one county or agency and hired shortly thereafter by another department. Once revoked, that police officer would not be allowed to be re-hired. A Police license would also make an officer think twice about their actions and ask themselves, “ Is it worth it to kneel on a mans neck, choke a man to death, shoot this unarmed man, be racist…etc… in fear of losing my license which would result in me losing the ability to feed my family”. A license means officers have something to lose if they act inappropriately and ultimately could provide increased accountability and integrity on duty.
• Video Cameras to end (His word vs the Officer’s): The year is 2020. No longer should we live in a time period where one must put their word up of a situation against and officer’s. 9.999 times out of 10 the officer’s word will always be taken. This is one reason why the recent videos of police brutality have become so engaging on a public level. Video evidence does not allow for an officer(s) conduct to be swept under the rug. Unfortunately, as it stands, if an incident isn’t recorded, the officers word is taken and the other party is quite frankly “Fucked” as there is almost no way the individual’s word will be taken over the officers. This leads to men and woman being wrongfully charged with crimes such as resisting arrest, assault on an officer etc. This must end, and it must end NOW. I believe ALL officers should be equipped with cameras and they must remain filming during any incident with an individual and an officer. This will ensure higher levels of transparency and a reduction in discrepancies between officers and individuals. I want to take it a step further as well. If an incident in question was not filmed, or “the officers’ camera was turned off briefly”, then the event in question should not be prosecutable or acted upon in terms of believing the officer over the individual. This would entice officers to completely record an altercation or instance as that would be the source of material for pending proceedings. This also prevents individuals from being victimized by police offers through being solely at the mercy of the officer(s) word vs theirs in regard to an incident or occurrence.
• Immediate Federal Investigation for Police Conduct: We must end this era of “Internal Investigations” of officer’s conduct. Internal investigations by theory are unfair, less transparent, and liable for misconduct related to evidence or prosecutorial opinion. Should an incident occur between a police officer and an individual in which the potential for officer(s) wrong doing could have occurred, a Federal or established external organization with no ties to the officer(s) department should be involved in handling the investigation. This would prevent officers from receiving a slap on the wrist or few weeks of paid leave.
• Conclusion: Many other ideas should be pondered, as ultimately it US the PEOPLE, who should decide and agree upon our system of governance and protection. I urge you all to contemplate and discuss potential SOLUTIONS to ending this system which so evidently oppresses Black people and other Minorities in this amazing country. Let the discussion continue, and let’s find a solution, TOGETHER!