03 June:
The protest began when Geroge Floyd was arrested on 25 May in Minneapolis and a white police officer kneeled on his neck for several minutes even after he begged that he could not breathe. That officer, Derek Chauvin, has been charged with third-degree murder and will appear in court next week and three other police officers have been fired for the same incident.
Geroge’s words in his final moments have become a rallying cry for Black Lives Matter protesters. The case has turned into high-profile cases of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri; Eric Garner in New York. The death of Floyd reflected years of frustration over socio-economic discrimination. But the protests also echo those of the Civil Rights movement more than 50 years ago.
Since Dr King or MLK, gunned down by a sniper in 1968, this protest has been the most widespread racial turbulence that the US has experienced. The protest was joined by Floyd’s relatives with the 60,000 other protesters in the Houston rally.
The protest has spread to many parts of the US, many came out for curfews in several cities. The situation became out of control when on Monday night an armed man was shot dead by police in the same city.
The Pope said, “We cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism. But he also condemned the violence: “Nothing is gained by violence and so much is lost.”
Geroge’s nephew exclaimed crowd: “Don’t stop until we get justice for my uncle. Geroge’s mother standing with his Gianna said: “I’m here for my baby and I’m here for George because I want justice for him.”
To this incident Donald Trump twitted: “You got it wrong! If the protesters were so peaceful, why did they light the Church on fire the night before? People liked my walk.”
George Floyd’s funeral is due to take place on 9 June in Houston.