Opinion: George Floyd’s Death and Systemic Racism In the US, By ‘Tope Oriola
You have all seen the video by now. The assassination of George Floyd was televised. With his left hand in his pocket, the embodiment of evil and the fullest expression of inhumanity, who shall remain nameless, snuffed life out of a fellow human being. George Floyd begged for his life. He repeatedly stated, “I can’t breathe”. He called out for his mother. He was 46 years old. He joins a long lineage of African American men and women murdered in cold blood by police officers.
From the U.K to France, many people around the world are sickened and disgusted by the assassination of George Floyd and other senseless killings in the U.S. governments of sub-Saharan African states have been too internally troubled, rudderless and powerless to attempt any serious diplomatic intervention in the constellation of killings of people of African origins. We sold their ancestors into slavery. The underdevelopment of our continent continues to cheapen their lives.
A thought came to me last night after six hours of meetings regarding the response of the African diaspora in Edmonton to Covid-19 and the epitome of man’s inhumanity to a fellow man in Minneapolis. To be honest, I struggled up to 1:15 am with whether or not to be part of this forum. My last meeting of the day had ended around midnight.
You may need to speak up even when it is not convenient. The black woman who needs that job, the refugee, the young mother, the Aboriginal man, those at-risk youth downtown or in rural Alberta among others may need you to be an ally and speak out when they have no voice or are not in the room. Do not ignore injustice around you. Do not simply tell them to get on with it. By all means, allow everyone around you to breathe. Do not withhold oxygen from them.
Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Private Autopsy Shows George Floyd Suffocated To Death, Says LawyerPrivate Autopsy Shows George Floyd Suffocated To Death, Says Lawyer
Read more »
George Floyd: Journalists covering US protests attacked
Read more »
George Floyd: Bundesliga footballers join LeBron, Jordan in US protest
Read more »
Jadon Sancho backs “Justice for George Floyd\u201d campaign after scoring in Dortmund\u2019s winBorussia Dortmund star, Jadon Sancho, on Sunday shunned celebrating his first goal against Paderborn in the Bundesliga by making a statement over the killing of an American, George Floyd, by a police officer in the United States last week. Sancho found the net to put Dortmund 2-0 in front against Paderborn at the Benteler Arena
Read more »
George Floyd: Trump threatens military crackdown on protestsPresident Donald Trump vowed Monday to order a military crackdown on once-in-a-generation violent protests gripping the United States, saying he was sending thousands of troops onto the streets of ...
Read more »
Liverpool Players in Solidarity with Protests over Killing of George Floyd - THISDAYLIVE* Abdul-Jabbar defends protests, says racism deadlier than Covid-19 Liverpool players took a knee around the centre-circle at Anfield in a message of support following the death in police custody of African-American George Floyd in Minneapolis, USA. The picture featuring 29 Reds players came with the caption “Unity is strength. BlackLivesMatter”. Players reportedly requested the …
Read more »