Opinion
Say His Name. George Floyd.
has a record of shootings and complaints“” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:20|text_align:center|color:%237a7a7a” google_fonts=”font_family:Alfa%20Slab%20One%3Aregular|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fworld-nation%2Fstory%2F2020-05-29%2Fchauvin-shootings-complaints-minneapolis-floyd||target:%20_blank|”][vc_empty_space]
Chauvin continued to exert pressure on his neck even as Floyd begged him to stop, told him repeatedly he couldn’t breathe and then finally prayed for his mother to help him before he died. You can hear in his voice the full terror he experienced as he knew he was being murdered, before a gathered crowd and yet no one could help him.
Chauvin continued to keep his knee on Floyd’s neck with an expression of terrifying equanimity on his face clearly backed by the full composure of a raging psychopath. Then the world waited for what must be justice, the omnipotent hand of an Old Testament God to enact his terrible wrath on Chauvin and the other officers who were complicit in this murder. But nothing happened.
What is Third Degree murder? Minnesota originally defined this as an act “without intending to affect the death of any person causing it.” In 1987 it would become a charge levied at someone who sold drugs that resulted in death. It also refers to the death of an unborn child and holds a maximum sentence of 25 years.
From what I can tell there is no minimum sentence. The charge was basically set up to create a scenario of “culpable negligence” by Chauvin so that he might claim that Floyd’s death happened inadvertently. When the world realized how woefully inadequate the charge was, when we could already see the gears and levers of the system aligning to let Chauvin walk away relatively unscathed, when the world reached a point just two months after an unarmed, jogging Ahmed Aubrey was senselessly gunned downed by two white vigilantes Gregory and Travis McMichael, where it couldn’t take it anymore; when the world could no longer bear the sorrow, the outrage, the ethical corruption and the moral bankruptcy, it fractured, it split apart and it exploded in fire.
Looting is not the same as slowly and methodically murdering someone in broad daylight. And when I hear people voicing their outrage about looting and trying to equate it with the murder of George Floyd I feel the need to explain that, “Sorry no the burning, destruction and theft of property, while reprehensible, in no way comes close to the intentional and cruel taking away of a human life.” The first results from anger, greed, stupidity or desperation while second is the result of pure, unadulterated evil.
And I don’t blame you. Being the majority feels awesome. It’s like being the most popular kids in high school for your whole life. But you have no idea what it’s like to live as part of a minority, where you feel that no matter how you are victimized, no matter how bullied, unfairly vilified or oppressed, it is impossible to be heard and implausible to receive justice. That’s why people were so angry because they felt that incredible pain of systemic injustice and they reacted with rage.
‘We’re hurting, we’re hurting’— grief and outrage converge in Minneapolis“” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:20|text_align:center|color:%237a7a7a” google_fonts=”font_family:Alfa%20Slab%20One%3Aregular|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nationalgeographic.com%2Fphotography%2F2020%2F05%2Fwere-hurting-were-hurting-grief-and-outrage-converge-in-minneapolis%2F||target:%20_blank|”]
Even if you are eventually one of the few that makes it to the top of your profession, you will never become an entrenched part of the elite, the decision and policy makers. Never admitted into the inner sanctum. And even if you do, it’s because the majority wants you there to serve their needs and can take away everything you have the moment you step out of line.
Imagine then that your brother is arrested, dragged to the ground and is being choked to death, slowly for 8 minutes 46 seconds. You are forced to watch helplessly, and he dies an excruciating death before your eyes. Are you starting to get the picture?
Yes, there are the bad ones like Tou Thao who also has a record of complaints against him and can be seen shoving a young man that is trying to point out Floyd is unconscious, or San Jose Officer Jared Yuen, who can be seen on video screaming expletives, clearly enjoying perpetuating violence on demonstrators. I have just one thing to say to Thao and Yuen. “Fuck you motherfuckers,” as Asian Americans you bring shame to us with your cowardice.
For those using what started as an act of righteous indignation to loot or commit senseless acts of violence you are disempowering and undermining all the good people who came to demonstrate in solidarity. Yes, their voices are angry. They should be. They are hurt. But their message is pure. And it calls for the end for the systemic murder of black people in America.
Third degree murder is for a charge where death happens as a result of negligence. There is nothing negligent about Chauvin as he appears to intentionally compress Floyd’s carotid artery. In martial arts, you learn to immediately release a hold like this because holding it for a few minutes results in brain death.
Derek Chauvin kept the pressure on Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes 46 seconds in an act of ruthless and intentional murder. A full week later, even as the United States burns, Derek Chauvin is still only charged with third degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. A full week later the leader of the United States who should be declaring an end to the needless murder of black men and women in America by the police is silent on the subject.
Everyone including and especially the voice of the majority, the voice of white America has to stand up for this. Because as Bishop Desmond Tutu correctly said, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”