I See People Trying To Justify The Officer’s Actions Relating To George Floyd’s Murder Following

I see people trying to justify the officer’s actions relating to George Floyd’s murder following the recent bodycam footage. Firstly, resisting arrest is not grounds for murder. There have been many white criminals who have resisted arrest and were dealt with peacefully.

Secondly, George Floyd clearly had trauma from previous police interactions, saying that he got shot once by them. He says this in the face of a gun being directed at him in the beginning of the footage when he had not yet resisted. The gun was not put away. Later he says that he fears being shot and getting COVID (presumably in prison), neither of these fears were assuaged. Instead the police are forceful and verbally aggressive with him (swearing at him multiple times).

Thirdly, he was clearly panicking and the cops did nothing to deescalate. This is why people are saying defund the police because a mental health professional would have done much more good. Or at least train police to deal with people with mental illness or those who panic during arrests. 6 months of training is not enough.

Fourthly, Floyd said that he needed 3 seconds to catch his breath before going into the vehicle. He was not granted those 3 seconds.

Finally, he was restrained. I see people saying that the drugs in his system were a factor in him being unable to breath. Even if that was the case. ANYONE who’s neck is being KNELT ON for 8 MINUTES is going to die. 8 minutes of lack of oxygen is enough to strangle a perfectly healthy man.

Even if he was violent, which he was not, he did not deserve to die. He did not deserve to die for having drugs in his system, he did not deserve to die for using counterfeit bills, he did not deserve to die for panicking and resisting arrest. George Floyd should still be alive, the officers involved in his murder should be convicted and the police should be held accountable and defunded in favour of investing in poorer neighbourhoods, education, drug treatment programs and mental health services.