The decision by the high court comes in the midst of a global pandemic and an uprising in the wake of the killing of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis police that lays bare the extend of racial injustice in this country.
When the Rev. Al Sharpton implored White America to “get your knee off our necks” at the memorial of George Floyd, his words were carried by news outlets across the globe.
In this new movement of mass protest against police violence, anti-Black racism, and white supremacy, we will settle for nothing less than total transformation.
We’re witnessing a global uprising in response to police violence against Black people and the systemic racism that pervades American culture. There has been an invigoration of the movement for
In a country of this size and diversity, it makes little sense to cling to statues that honor only a few, including historical figures unworthy of such acclaim.
The Richmond Police Department was known for being “tough." But a grassroots campaign called “Stop Killer Cops!” exposed an active White supremacist group inside the force.
“This clearly isn’t about individual officers,” Oliver said. “It’s about a structure built on systemic racism that this country created intentionally, and now needs to be dismantled intentionally.”
George Floyd’s death—and so many before his—was avoidable. But until Black Lives Matter to elected officials, police officers, and White Americans, the uprisings will continue.