5 June, 2020
George Perry Floyd Jr., a 46 year-old man who lost his life after being constrained face-down by four Minneapolis Police officers, on Thursday May 25, 2020. After a 911 report by a staff of Cup Foods, a local eatery on the corner of Chicago Avenue and E. 38th Street in the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota State. After being manhandled by four Police officers for over thirty minutes, including a knee-down on his neck by Derek Chauvin (this lasting nearly 9 minutes long, even after Mr. Floyd lay lifeless and obviously unconscious on the roadside by the Police car), Mr. Floyd was rushed to a nearby hospital; and in less than an hour later, was pronounced dead. The Hennepin County coroner’s report found that George Floyd died from cardiac arrest during application of “neck compression”, also, “arteriosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease; fentanyl intoxication; and recent methamphetamine use.” (https://www.fox9.com/news/hennepin-county-medical-examiner-declares-george-floyd-death-homicide)
On May 29, former officer Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. On Wednesday (June 3, 2020), Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison updated Chauvin’s charges to include second degree murder, and the other three former officers (namely, Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao) were charged with aiding and abetting second degree murder.
This may seem as an adequate service of justice to Mr. Floyd’s family and his supporters, but it can never bring back his life nor the countless of coloured people and others which have lost their lives due to Police brutality.
Despite the unified voices protesting under the banner, ‘Black Lives Matter’, there does not seem to be a resolve among the protesting majority who are defying the curfew.
Social injustice, as history has shown to us, will continue to occur, even when the MLKs and civil rights champions are long passed on!
What society needs to consider are lasting, fulfilling policies that will prevent and minimize future disasters like the unfortunate death of George Floyd.
Violence and riots are never lasting and resolute options. Americans should have organised a fund-raising in support of Floyd and other families who have lost their fathers through Police brutality. Psychiatric counselling need to be implemented for Police officers (like Tou Thao and Derek Chauvin) who have been under prior investigation for brutality.
The judiciary has served the sentences, Mr. Floyd has been given a dignified burial. People need to stop using the innocent death of this man as an excuse or platform for violence and riotous rebellion.
The Bible advises the believers in Romans 12:19, ‘Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.’ If there are two things God will pay dues for in the Bible, it is vengeance on the innocence and acts of service to the poor. In Proverbs 19:17, the Bible declares, ‘He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.’ The Bible is clear that believers ought to ‘Recompense to no man evil for evil…’ (Romans 12:17; 1 Peter 3:9).
Let’s leave the avenging to God, please. For ‘It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.’ (Hebrews 10:31)
Rest in peace Mr. George Perry Floyd Jr. (October 14, 1973 – May 25, 2020).
BIG LIFE QUESTIONS 