Exercise
Tap all the highlighted words in the transcript below to see their definition. ⇩Do you know what has happened since George Floyd, an unarmed black man, was killed by police last month?
The short answer: A lot.
Here are some of the more positive events that have taken place since May 25.
Worldwide Protests
Protests and riots started the day after George Floyd was killed. They began in the U.S. but quickly spread around the world.
Charges
Derek Chauvin, an officer involved in the killing of George Floyd, was arrested on May 29. He’s been charged with second-degree manslaughter and murder.
On June 3 three former Minneapolis police officers who were connected to George Floyd’s death were charged with aiding and abetting.
Statues
On June 4 the governor of Virginia ordered that a statue of Robert E. Lee be taken down (Lee was against equal rights for African Americans). The statue is currently still standing; however, it is now covered in graffiti.
Three days later in Bristol, England, a statue of Edward Colston, a slave trader, was thrown into the ocean by protesters.
Rising support
In Washington, D.C. on June 5, “BLACK LIVES MATTER” was painted on a street near the White House. The painting, which is 11 metres high, was ordered by the mayor of D.C.
That same day, the NFL said that they were wrong for opposing players’ peaceful protests against racism and police brutality (such as kneeling during the national anthem).
On June 10, NASCAR banned the confederate flag, which is a symbol of racism, from all of its facilities.
Police reform
On June 12, the city council in Minneapolis voted to disband the police department and replace it with a community public safety system.
Colorado removed “qualified immunity” from its police force on June 19. Qualified immunity protects police officers from being punished by the law in some cases.
Bretty Hankinson
Police officer Brett Hankison was fired on June 23. He was involved in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor, a black woman who was killed by police in her own home.
Black lives matter
Here are some things you can do to help the black community in the fight for social justice:
- Share information (from black sources) on social media
- Donate to an organization that needs funding
- Sign a petition
- Support black businesses
Whatever you do, don’t stay silent!
Development Racial Movement Comprehension
Hi Andrea. Many things have changed since that day. The world is living a period of many changes… and I think that nobody knows where the world is going, but we are going to live many difficult situations… This year we have the most important problem, the virus called Covid (too many deaths) and its economic problems by this disease, there are American elections, and we have to wait what will happen. Racism is another problem that we have to fight against it.
Hi Antonio, thank you very much for sharing your point of view on the current situation.
Like Dr. Martin Luther said:
„ Hate paralyses life; love releases it. Hate confuses life, love brings it into line. Hate darkens life, love lights it.
Thank you for sharing.
Well it was very sad moment and I think it’s an opportunity to police and all of us think that we are the same, we really to respect each other and it’s the unique way to banish this kind of happened from the world! I hope his death can be our opportunity to become a better civilization!
Hi Marcos, yes, we have to learn and make changes for a better society now.
I don’t consider a good thing destroy our history, all characters Statues, no matter how violent or Slaver may have been.
It’s our history.
I don’t intend to cover their actionS,, I say their actions were right at that time, and aren’t fair at this time. They are remembered for other actions, which have nothing to do with their slaver status.
Thank you for commenting.
Unfortunately, one people has died and then starting Revolution I’m from Brazil and racism here always happened it so sad, but the word need change I support black lives matter
It’s awful that people have lost their lives. I hope you stay safe and well.