June 09, 2020

BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTEST

BLOG NO.: 1

"In a racist society, it is not enough to be nonracist. We must be anti-racist"-Angela Davis

HOW DID THE PROTEST START?

This protest started when on 25 May, 2020 George Floyd, a 46 years old African American was killed in Minneapolis, US by an police officer, Derek Chauvin. He was chocked till death in the public road of Minneapolis outside the store where he was accused of using a false note to buy something. The police arrested him and pinned him down and one of the officer kept his knees on the neck of the accused. The unfortunate and gruesome act was witnessed by many people who were present there. The people captured the scene on their phones. George called out many a times that "I cannot breathe" and also the people witnessing the event also told the officer to handcuff him instead of pinning him down in such way as it was chocking him. He also called out his mother before going silence. He was pinned down for about 8 minutes and 46 seconds before he died.

George Floyd Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.

pic: on the left George Floyd, on the right Derek Chauvin

REACTION OF PEOPLE

The death of George Floyd arouse a sense of rage amongst the people all around the world against the injustice and accusation without proof against the black people. There rose the trend or campain of #BlackLivesMatter or #BLM. This event was the triggering move that arouse the sense of anger against the injustice that has been constantly happening against the black race all over the world for a long time. Many cases have come across about the injustice or ill treatment that the black people are facing in various aspects like job opportunities, falsely being accused of many suspicion, etc. This George Floyd event propelled many organizations and people to come out on the streets and start protesting in this corona virus pandemic. People started to protest all around the world regarding this issue that is pertaining in this so called modern society. Many people out of rage even started to loot stores and even beating the police officers. Not only people in many places police also started beating and throwing tear gas toward the peaceful protestors making the scene worse.

Many people countered the trend of #blacklivesmatter by raising the question why only black lives matter, there they also started the movement #alllivesmatter and #bluelivesmatter. On counter the Black Lives Matter organization who was a major organization in driving the campaign of #blacklivesmatter said that this movement does not say only black lives matter it says black lives matter, it is for the protection of the rights that the black don't get, although they rightfully deserve that. This protest was an inch to show or disrespect the other community or race but an attempt to preserve and justify the rights that the black deserve.

pic:people protesting on the streets

FACTS

One study says that innocent black people are more likely to be wrongfully convicted of crimes than innocent white people, this study proves the biased nature of people in US towards the blacks and the whites.
Previous year US record shows that police killed around 1000 people around which 24% were black and 49% were whites. Looking from the surface it might look that whites are being killed more but if you compare the population difference then you can see that 13% are black and 62% are whites and out of that 24% are killed. So if you compare the population proportion blacks are being targeted more.
Now seeing the fact that most people that are in the jail are black. so it may seem that black are more likely to be the culprit but when you see the fact black people are 47% black are more wrongfully convicted than the whites. Most blacks are mostly innocent when seen in the larger proportion.
the salary differences that a common black people get compared to a common white is also a testiment of racism in work place.

WILL THE PROTEST BRING ABOUT ANY CHANGE ?

This protest can become one of the many protest that has happened in the history to bring about a change and is unsuccessful in justifying its purpose if necessary steps will not be taken by the government and the people individually. First to bring about a positive and large change we need to bring about a small change within ourselves and our surrounding community. We should stand against the one's who practice such inhuman act of racism and show them what is right to help them bring about a change in themselves before changing anything about anyone else. If you see any of your family discriminating against any one because of their cast, creed or color you should not hesitate to correct them and change their mentality because 'charity begins at home'. If we can change mentality from the grass-root level it will help in solving the issue of racism to a great extent and make a our world a better place to live with pride, grace and harmony.

"AT THE END WE BLEED THE SAME COLOUR"