The recent trend in global challenges concerning the justice systems in the United States of America (USA) occasioned by the death (or murdered) George Floyd in Minneapolis in the State of Minnesota has presented the need to holistically address the issue of racism (of Black versus White).
On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after white police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed and lying face down on the street.
Despite the calls by onlookers to Derek (the Policemen) to remove his knee from the neck of Floyd, he refused. His colleagues at the same time pinned down Floyd resting their frames on his back. These men remained unmoved with the 16 times Floyd called out that he “cannot breathe.” Seconds after the 16th time Floyd called on his mother…” mama” twice, and went into unconsciousness! It was only then that the Police officers called for the Ambulance to come to the scene.
Nevertheless, the rest is history. George Floyd perhaps was already dead with the foam that oozed out of his mouth. The foam preceded the blood, which streamed from his mouth.
Despite opinions about competence by the cross-section (white) of the public on Michael Baden, who was hired by relatives of George Floyd, to conduct the post mortem or the county (who works for the police) medical examiners comments, George Floyd has been murdered.
This situation looks like a movie. Looking back at the CCTV footages, many thoughts ran through my mind. What if there is no CCTV, and what if there were no concerned citizens that started the filming. The citizens were resolute to document the scenes despite the efforts of Derek’s colleagues to ward them off.
The entire scenario playback in a different setting, for instance, in Nigeria presents a perfect similarity. It, therefore, suggests that there is no difference in the character of men employed for policing globally. Events have shown that the difference in policing in Africa, Europe and America is that the developed economies have modern equipment and communication gadgets than what is obtainable in many African countries.
However, what this situation has painted is that extra-judicial killings are not limited to the ethnically biased systems obtained in many African systems but also the norm in the western economies only that it is the opposite of ethnicity- Racism!
Unfortunately, a country viewed as the custodian of the ideal democratic principles is no different from the usual dark leadership of known authoritarian regimes in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
With tears, I watched the video of the killing. It brought memories of other brutalities on blacks and people of colour to mind. No doubt, the youths in Minneapolis, Washington, all over the states of America, revolted that enough is enough! The emotions were high to see corresponding solidarity in faraway in cities of London, Sidney, Toronto and many other cities of the world. This effect did not get lost in Africa, as major cities like Lagos saw the youths rise to the call that “Black Lives Matter.” Surprisingly though to see the support against racism coming from Nigeria. A country under the shackle of severe issues of ethnicity and bigotry. I would have thought we focus on that issue and see how well things could turn. However, the consolation is that the youths solidarity in Nigeria is a sign that sometimes in the future, the shackled youths and the downtrodden offspring’s of that great nation will rise to “breathe” from the oppressive hold of the tyranny of the ruling elites! It could have been “another one bite the dust”… with additional epaulette adorned the uniforms of the Killer policemen! Most cases end up in probe committees whose reports ends on the piles of bygone unimplemented probe out comes’ thing still going for those in America is the quick response to medical attention, post- mortem and court trials.