Author: Deja Bonney
Youth Nation is a site for young people to express their political opinions and engage in discourse. During this difficult time, Youth Nation hopes to provide a safe space to voice your beliefs. In the midst of the global coronavirus pandemic, many African Americans have been dying at the hands of police or white supremacists such as George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery. These unfortunate incidents deserve to be spoken about in a safe environment like Youth Nation.
Outraged by the murder of George Floyd, people took to the streets to protest police violence. The protests started in Minnesota, upon the release of the footage of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis at the hands of the police. Soon, the protests expanded to places like New York, Los Angeles, and Paris. For those who are unfamiliar, Floyd was allegedly suspected of using a fake check and before he had the chance to exercise his right to a fair trial, the police became the executioners and one police officer cut off his airway by kneeling on his neck for several minutes. Floyd repeatedly shouted the words “I Can’t Breathe” and nothing was done by the police officers to get him medical aid, or take his knee off Floyd’s neck until he was unconscious for several minutes. This type of abuse against minorities is long-standing, but people are rising up to try to change the persistent inequitable behavior of those in power. George Floyd was the catalyst to the overpowering fight we all have no matter the color of your skin to seek justice and change.
We all may be young but our opinions and belief for what’s right matters. It’s okay to feel confused, angry, and not know at all how you can contribute to change right now when you’re young, but here are some ways. You can go on change.org and sign petitions for what you think is right. In this case, you can sign a petition that says that police officers should get a screening for racial bias and psychological disorders every 6 months to a year or make it a law that a police officer can not put someone who is being detained in a chokehold. Another way you can be a part of the change is to use your social media platforms. You can spread awareness of the injustices many minorities are going through, even in this time of protest, and expose some police officers for who they are. With continued efforts to bring awareness to the malpractice of government officials, we can foster positive change.