By Sarah Burnett<\/p>\n
We are supposed to be living in a country where \u201call men are created equal.\u201d But in recent light of events, it is quite clear that we still live in a world full of hatred, racism, and inequality. On Monday, May 25th, George Floyd, an unarmed African-American, died in police custody after a white police officer had him pinned to the ground by kneeling on his neck. His death has sparked a international Black Lives Matter civil-rights movement which has resulted in protesting, rioting, looting, anger, a social media firestorm, and the continuation of an important conversation about racism that is still alive in our country.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In the Minneapolis neighborhood of Powderhorn, George Floyd was a 46-year old father, brother, son, friend, and well-liked coworker at several local businesses. Tera Brown, his cousin , that \u201ceverybody loved him. You wouldn\u2019t be able to find a single person who knew him who didn\u2019t love him.\u201d George Floyd\u2019s friends and family say that he moved to Minneapolis to start a better life with his family, but little did they know what was coming.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On a seemingly-average Monday night, Floyd went to his local grocery store, Cup Foods, to buy a pack of cigarettes. He was a regular, store owner Mike Abumayyaleh told NBC. \u201cHe was a friendly face, a pleasant customer who never caused any trouble,\u201d said Abumayyaleh. Floyd tried to pay with a $20 bill, but the store employee thought it was a counterfeit bill. Following store protocol, the teenage employee notified the police of the alleged counterfeit money. Several minutes later, the police arrived on the scene.<\/span><\/p>\n This is when things started to become violent. One of the police officers pulled out his gun and ordered Floyd to show his hands. According to two police officers dealing with the situation, Floyd actively \u201cresisted being arrested.\u201d When officers tried to put Floyd into the police car, he \u201c<\/span>stiffened up, fell to the ground, and told the officers he was claustrophobic,\u201d <\/span>(ABC News) <\/span>according to reports. Shortly after, two more police officers arrived on the scene. This is when officer Derek Chauvin arrived on the scene. In attempting to stop Floyd from resisting arrest, Chauvin pinned George Floyd onto the ground by kneeling on his neck.<\/span><\/p>\n On cameras from bystanders, Floyd is heard to say \u201cI can\u2019t breathe.\u201d \u201cPlease, please, please..\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/i><\/b>George Floyd was begging the officer to get off of his neck, yet Chauvin refused. Floyd was responsive for about six of the eight minutes he was pinned to the ground, but then lost consciousness. Bystanders were screaming and yelling at the officer to get off of Floyd, yet the three other officers surrounding him said nothing<\/span>. <\/i><\/b>After paramedics arrived at the scene, George Floyd was pronounced dead. All four of the police officers were fired, and\u00a0 Chauvin was later arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter of George Floyd. [UPDATE AS OF 6\/5\/20- All 4 officers have been arrested and charged of murder, and they are all awaiting trial.]\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n People are enraged with the death of Floyd. This is just a small look into racism that is still present in today\u2019s society. Of course Floyd\u2019s death isn\u2019t sitting well with anyone; it was 100% wrong. People across the country have been expressing their lack of trust in the police force, and are starting to take their anger out by protesting and calling for reform to the justice system.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Protests and riots have broken out across the United States. Initially the protests were peaceful, but in a few places this didn\u2019t last long. People have been destroying and looting businesses, buildings are being burned down, people are being teargassed and shot at with rubber bullets by police, historical monuments\/buildings are being vandalized and destroyed, people are smashing and dancing on police cars that are set on fire, and there is so much more. It looks like something straight out of a movie, and many people can\u2019t believe it\u2019s actually real.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n These events have raised the question as to whether or not these riots are essential in order to institute change to the justice system. One freshman from a Long Reach High School said that \u201cthe protesting is good, but setting a Target on fire is ridiculous. Yes of course there needs to be protests, but why has it become so violent? It has gotten too far.\u201d On the other hand, a junior from Atholton High School said that \u201cSome people see violence; I see American citizens finally united.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Government officials are trying to bring a halt to the violence and destruction, with many states now calling up the national guard. They are also fearful that these protests will trigger a second wave of the corona virus due to the amount of people closely packed together. As an American citizen, you have the right to protest. You can voice your opinion and be heard, but it is also important to stay safe.<\/span><\/p>\n The protesting isn\u2019t just physical, it\u2019s becoming virtual as well. The Black Lives Matter Movement is sweeping across all social media platforms. People are posting links to sign petitions, sharing websites to donate money, posting videos of police brutality, and overall trying to bring awareness to the huge issues the world is facing- in regards to the oppression of African-Americans. Many celebrities are using their platforms to share their support towards the black community. Many are embracing the words of Archbishop Desmund Tutu, who said that\u201cif you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The death of George Floyd has also brought awareness to the quiet culture of hate and racism within Howard County. HCPSS students are using their platforms to voice their opinions on the social injustices different schools are facing. A senior at Oakland Mills High School posted a brief message to instagram which has caught the attention of thousands of HCPSS students. In the message he posted, he stated that \u201cI am constantly hearing Oakland Mills, Hammond, and Wilde Lake constantly referred to as the \u201cghetto\u201d schools or the \u201cbad schools\u201d…. We are not the \u201cghetto\u201d schools because we are stupid, have drug problems, or high crime rates, because we aren\u2019t any of those. We are the \u201cghetto schools\u201d because we are majority POC (people of color).\u201d This senior is one of many in HCPSS who have recently voiced their opinions about the inequalities and unfairness of treatment within Howard County. Others in Howard County wish to express their opposition in a protest scheduled to occur at the AMC movie theaters on June 2nd in light of the death of George Floyd.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0In a year that is already dominated by uncertainty and worry, George Floyd’s death adds to the tumult that is engulfing our country. George Floyd\u2019s death has led to a tremendous backlash. He did not deserve to die. Protests are continuing to break out across the United States. Please stay healthy and safe.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Sarah Burnett We are supposed to be living in a country where \u201call men are created equal.\u201d But in recent light of events, it is quite clear that we still live in a world full of hatred, racism, and inequality. 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