George Floid: Five years since his murder – Change something?

Five years have ended today, Sunday, May 25 USAwhen police ignored his appeals to stop pressing him on the ground by force, making it impossible for him to breathe.

Floid’s violent and unjustified death triggered large movements in the United States, but also smaller scale worldwide, demanding that racism and racial discrimination be put into an end.

The Black Lives Matter movement then became widely known, taking citizens on the streets and demanding justice across the police violence and attacks with racial motives.

Today, however, there seems to have been much changed and police murders in the US have increased.

The movement against police and racist violence

Five years ago, Republicans and Democrats shared the streets of the country to denounce police violence and declare that black lives were important. Now, Donald Trump and his decisions restore the racial debate.

« President Trump applies tirelessly policies that take care of America’s security, prosperity and success for all Americans, » said Harrison Fildz, a White House spokesman. « The Trump government is committed to stopping crime, maintaining justice, protecting communities and strengthening federal, state and local law enforcement authorities. »

The « Black Lives Matter » movement preceded Floid’s death, as it came from George Cimmerman’s acquittal of Trebon Martin’s death in 2013 and Michael Brown’s deaths and Eric Garner in 2014, who were caused by the police. Post of New York Times.

But the « explosion » took place after the murder of Floid. Half a million people came to nearly 550 communities in all the United States in just one day, June 6 2020. Between 15 and 26 million people participated in demonstrations or showed their support in the weeks after May 25, 2020, including basic republican executives. 2012, and Nicky Hale, Trump’s first ambassador to the United Nations.

Citizens dance during the second day of the three -day Rise and Remember festival ahead of the fifth anniversary of the murder. Reuters/Lucy Baptiste

Much has changed since then. Earlier this month, the Pew Research Center found that 72% of Americans say that « increased focus on race and racial inequality after Floid’s murder did not lead to changes that improved black life ». The popularity of the Black Lives Matter movement has fallen by 15 percentage points from its climax in June 2020, though a small majority of the public continues to express its support.

Trump’s activism and inadequate (sometimes problematic) attitude

The price may be personal. Selwin Jones, 59, still talks about the death of his nephew, Floid, who lost his life after the violent behavior of Minneapolis policeman Derek Savin. But as one of the few blacks in his small town in southern Dakota, Jones said his activism had removed some people he once considered close to.

« These people I thought were my friends, whom I had known for over 20 years, I haven’t talked to any of them for five years, » Jones said.

Ibraram H. Kenti, a professor of « anti -racism » advocate, saw his academic « Astro » weaken since 2020, when he founded the Center for Anti -Racist Research at the University of Boston with $ 55 million. In an interview, however, he said he was still seeing in the long run. The « anti -racist revolution » has slowed, admitted, but it was never to be strengthened without obstacles.

A five -year -old girl plays a street that has the names of those who died by police. Reuters/Leah Millis

However, it is difficult to ignore the opposing « voices » that fight for racial justice activists.

Trump may have sworn in his second speech on swearing to « forge a society that will be blind of colors and will be based on value », but the president’s belief that « anti-white » discrimination has tilted society in favor of African Americans. These policies include the abolition of « diversity, equality and integration » into the government.

Woman puts a photo on the occasion of the « Walk a Mile in their Shoes » exhibition, in memory of those who lost their lives by police violence. Reuters/Leah Millis

As early as 1989, Trump had stated: « If I were starting today, I would love to be a well -educated black man, because I really think they have a real advantage. » In the 1990s, Trump expressed his concern that the loss of the majority of whites would lead to a revolution.

In an exchange of views at the Oval Office on Wednesday with South African President Siril Ramafa, Trump accused the leader of not doing enough to protect the white South Africans who, he said, were « executed ». He also falsely claimed that there was genocide against whites. During the meeting, Mr Trump repeatedly referred to « dead white people ».

The impact on tomorrow

There were a few who, after Floid’s death, managed to become known for their activism, but later received contempt, the New York Times emphasized.

« I tried not to get it personally, » said Dr. Kenti, whose scholarship has been challenged by Trump supporters, and his term of office at the University of Boston included charges of mismanagement that were later rejected. « I know it has to do less with me and more with this effort to turn people like me or the people who do the kind of work I do into harmful characters. »

Citizen lights candles at the point where the murder occurred. Reuters/Leah Millis

But Dr. Kenti has also faced criticism from his apparent allies that the context of his anti -racist activism is inappropriate and counterproductive. Dr. Kenti has said that most of his critics « either have not read my work or deliberately falsify it ».

In the aftermath of the Floid assassination, the Black Lives Matter Foundation Inc. raised the amazing amount of $ 79.6 million in the financial year 2021. The following year, that amount was reduced to nearly $ 8.5 million. By 2023, it was about $ 4.7 million, with costs of $ 10.8 million, according to records monitored by the non -profit journalistic organization Propublica. The allegations of poor management have erupted between the Foundation and its funders, which hurt the reputation of the leaders of the movement.

Historians note that even when social movements face reactions, the change they have brought is never completely overturned.

Black Lives Matter activists and supporters gathered for the 5th anniversary of Floid’s death. Reuters/David Swanson

« We would not have a democracy in this country, or at least the sense of a strong democracy without black people and their own struggles, » said Dr. Steven Khan, a professor at the University of New York. « They were the most dedicated to real democracy that is not bound by exceptions and exclusions, » he said of the abolition of slavery.

But Professor Khan expressed real concern.

« The world is silent, and before you understand it, » he said, « we return to a bad zero point. »

However, the Police Reform Movement triggered by the Floid assassination had a constant impact. Many police departments still demand police officers to wear cameras on them. In general, the collection of data on police violence has been reinforced.