In the wake of systemic, sometimes fatal racism as evidenced by recent police killings of Black people, mass uprisings have broken out across the United States. According to reports, some 75 American cities have seen some sort of public gatherings or protests including marches. They have also extended internationally with activity in both the United Kingdom and Germany. Celebrities like Tessa Thompson, Janelle Monae, Indya Moore, Lady Gaga, Janet Mock, Peppermint, Bob the Drag Queen and more have not only leant their voices and platforms, but some have physically shown up for the cause over the past five days.
At times, often due to police aggression, the mostly peaceful actions have turned violent, leading to the destruction of property, looting, and more. Local governments and states have enacted curfew in over 20 cities and the National Guard has been deployed in some instances. Throughout these actions, and online calls have rung out of "Black Lives Matter," as well as "Say His Name," and "Say Her Name," in ways mirroring the movements that began with the 2014 uprising in Ferguson, Missouri.
This most recent slate of unrest comes most directly as a reaction to the high profile deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breona Taylor, Tony McDade, and Nina Pop. Floyd was killed at the hands of police when Derek Chauvin, who has been the subject of at least 20 force-related complaints, kneeled on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds. Floyd's cries of "I can't breathe" went unacknowledged by Chauvin or the three other Minneapolis police officers on the scene, similar to the case of Eric Garner's 2014 death. Chauvin has since been fired and charged with murder in the third degree as well as manslaughter. The three other officers who were present have also been fired and protesters are calling for them to be charged as well.
\u201cMy POV at the #DCProtest for #BlackLivesMatter near the @WhiteHouse secret service police smiling as they pepper spray us and rush us. #NoJusticeNoPeace #RacialJustice @DCHomos @DMVBlackLives @CNN #MyHandsAreUp #icantbreathe\u201d— Javi Rodriguez \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf7\ud83c\udde9\ud83c\uddf4\ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddec (@Javi Rodriguez \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf7\ud83c\udde9\ud83c\uddf4\ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddec) 1590879421
\u201cHands up dont shoot chants!\u201d— ROES (@ROES) 1590961849
None— KD (@KD) 1590896480
\u201chttps://t.co/mp038yImgt\u201d— Alex Newell (@Alex Newell) 1590886524
\u201cdo not underplay these rubber bullets bc you have been told they are \u201cnot lethal\u201d. I had to bandage a man who looked like his entire face had exploded today. So before you say, from the comfort of your home, that we\u2019re exaggerating, please consider the injuries some have suffered\u201d— h (@h) 1590983058
Arbery was a 25-year old Black man who was lynched by white Georgia residents in February. Arrests were only made months later after national media coverage and public outcry. Taylor was killed by police after they barged into her home without an announcement. Last week McDade, a Black trans man, was killed by police under disputed circumstances after another fatal incident. Pop became the fifth trans woman of color to die this year after her stabbing death in early May as well.
As a result, uprisings have broken out nationwide. Activists and celebrities have called for action and taken to the streets to demand justice, answers, and change. Over 75 LGBTQ+ organizations have signed on to a letter demanding action -- as opposed to just rhetoric and platitudes -- that will fight the ongoing epidemic of systemic racism. At times they have been met with police in riot gear who have shot rubber bullets into crowds sometimes causing permanent injury, macing crowds, and on at least one recorded instance, driving purposefully into crowds and mowing down relatively peaceful protesters with barricades.
\u201cFull T.\u201d— Bobbiana (@Bobbiana) 1590939812
\u201cIf you had any doubt about America\u2019s priorities, here\u2019s how the people killing us are equipped vs the people keeping us alive\u201d— Zack Bornstein (@Zack Bornstein) 1590945155
\u201cGeorge Floyd is one of many people of color ruthlessly murdered by cops, and if we don\u2019t do something, there will be many more. When black and brown bodies are under constant attack by the police, we cannot be silent. #blacklivesmatter\u201d— PrEP4All (@PrEP4All) 1590948520
\u201cWe should be able to go without saying this, however we keep finding ourselves here. Until individuals are held accountable for murdering us, so many will continue to treat us like our lives are worthless. #BlackLivesMatter yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever! \ud83d\udda4\u201d— Deck the Jaida Essence Halls \ud83c\udf84 (@Deck the Jaida Essence Halls \ud83c\udf84) 1590943753
\u201cPSA: Being a Non-Black Latin person (not identifying as Afro-Latin) or more simply being a white-passing Latin person DOES NOT prevent you from standing beside Black people in solidarity to say, \u201cDEAR AMERICA, THIS GENOCIDE OF BLACK PEOPLE HAS TO STOP!\u201d \u270a\ud83c\udffc\u270a\ud83c\udffd\u270a\ud83c\udffe\u270a\ud83c\udfff #BlackLivesMatter\u201d— Steven Canals (@Steven Canals) 1590857277
The unrest has also resulted in death as in the case of James Scurlock, who was reportedly shot and killed by a white bar owner in Nebraska during a protest. Witnesses allege the killer used racial slurs prior to shooting.
In line with history, Black and brown LGBTQ+ people have been at the forefront of this fight with their allies helping to not only organize but take action. Online, those who have not been able to attend protests have not only signal boosted messages, but organized contributions to bail funds, criminal defense funds, and more, demanding justice in instances like in the case of Malcolm London who was "violently arrested" alongside others. Janet Mock, Indya Moore, and others have boosted London's story to demand their release.
None— . (@.) 1590943703
\u201cTRUE LIBERATION means we dismantle the racist, sexist, classist, homophobic, systems that disenfranchise through oppression, exclusion, & exploitation. We start by abolishing: \n\u2022 The Prison Industrial Complex\n\u2022 Systems of Policing \nAnd create alternatives in our communities.\u201d— Steven Canals (@Steven Canals) 1590943545
\u201c3 MILLION of you signed our petition demanding justice for #GeorgeFloyd.\u00a0Without you & the brave ppl of Minneapolis, #DerekChauvin may have never been arrested. But the fight for #WinningJustice isn\u2019t over. Text DEMANDS to 55156 to end violent policing against Black people\u201d— ColorOfChange (@ColorOfChange) 1590898819
\u201cQueen shit.\u201d— Shea Coule\u00e9 (@Shea Coule\u00e9) 1590902917
None— Ashley Regan (@Ashley Regan) 1590889486
\u201cI am voting . it\u2019s clear that the abuse of power and white supremacy that\u2019s in the WH currently is tied to the white supremacy and abuse of Power in the police force . We must vote them out .\u201d— Janelle Mon\u00e1e\ud83d\udc7d\ud83d\ude86\ud83e\udd16\ud83d\ude80\ud83e\ude90 (@Janelle Mon\u00e1e\ud83d\udc7d\ud83d\ude86\ud83e\udd16\ud83d\ude80\ud83e\ude90) 1590694710
\u201cI dont know how to articulate the horrors of today. NG + officers firing rounds into kneeling crowds. We dont have enough medics on the ground on our side. I was treating injuries I am not qualified to. So much blood spilled. If you have med training pls go + standby outskirts.\u201d— h (@h) 1590974757
\u201cIndya Moore is on the ground in Chicago worried about their loved one\u2019s safety. Malcolm London is a young activist in Chicago who was violently arrested alongside two comrades tonight. They rightly do not trust them in CPD custody. Pls contact @chicagosmayor for their release!\u201d— Janet Mock (@Janet Mock) 1590985789
This all is happening amid the ongoing viral pandemic and, like the government reopening public spaces, could result in a spike in cases. The police forces' increased use of smoke bombs and pepper spray could exacerbate this as those items would lead to coughing, sneezing, and the expulsion of other bodily fluids. This virus has adversely impacted and been fatal to the Black and brown communities who are protesting.
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