Following several nights of tense protests and violence, Derek Chauvin, the officer videotaped with his knee in an unarmed man’s neck, has been arrested. A video of Chauvin pinning George Floyd to the ground for ten minutes while Floyd begged for help went viral earlier this week. The video sparked immediate outrage and widespread condemnation.
Protests calling for the arrests of all four officers involved in the incident broke out Tuesday in Minneapolis. Throughout the week, the protests escalated into full-blown riots in areas. Frustration with police brutality boiled over into vandalism and destruction of property. Similar protests were organized across the US throughout the week. Universally, George Floyd’s death has been viewed as an outrage.
On Friday afternoon, Chauvin was arrested in connection to Floyd’s death.
In the aftermath of Floyd’s death, publications across the board lamented the needless violence. Those close to Floyd noted that he was a very sweet man, and many used the term “gentle giant” to describe the tall, friendly figure he cut. Floyd had recently moved to Minneapolis for a fresh start. He was working as a security guard for a local business.
Immediately following his death, his employer posted a photo of him in a “security” shirt. The caption noted that they would always remember Floyd as a friend. This, paired with the heartbreaking video of Floyd begging for mercy from Chauvin, struck a chord with Americans. Widespread outrage over Floyd’s death was an immediate reaction to the news.
From the president to the governor of Minnesota to the mayor of Minneapolis, nearly all political figures condemned the actions of the police. The message was resounding: George Floyd should not have died. No matter what political affiliation, people in the US seem to be in agreement on that point.
There is much less consensus on the nature of the protests against Floyd’s death, however. Trump tweeted out a fusillade of angry messages directed at the protesters, concluding with “when the looting start, the shooting starts”. On the other hand, many outlets have been more sympathetic towards the protesters. Some have empathized with their frustrations, despite imploring them to not destroy local shops and businesses.
Protesters, largely, seem to be of the mind that peaceful protests do not get the attention of the police. Instead, they have turned to vandalism and destruction to make their voices heard. Some unconfirmed rumors allege that undercover police officers set some buildings on fire to make the protesters appear more violent. There is no substantial evidence at this time to support such claims.
This unrest comes as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Many in the US have resorted to home care telehealth calls as they practice social isolation. Meanwhile, the protests have brought huge crowds in to the streets, threatening to undermine social distancing measures.
