In recent days, racial riots have brought Minneapolis to its knees. Last night, police officers retreated as violent protesters infiltrated the 3rd Precinct and burnt it to the ground. The Minneapolis Fire Department stood down as arsonists set flame to businesses across the city. Property owners were forced to fend for themselves, as videos have emerged of entrepreneurs – many of them African American – guarding their stores with firearms.
This most recent wave of social unrest was sparked by the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died in police custody. Video captured by a bystander depicts Officer Derek Chauvin pressing his knee into a handcuffed Floyd’s neck for around eight minutes. Surveillance video from a nearby building contradicts claims that Floyd attempted to resist arrest. After the arrest, the four officers involved were promptly fired and an investigation was launched. The condemnation of Derek Chauvin was immediate and widespread – Black Lives Matter activists, elected officials, and other police officers were quick to express their disgust for what had taken place. President Trump promptly ordered the Department of Justice to launch an investigation into the conduct of the four officers.
In the initial aftermath of the gross injustice, the community organized and people protested peacefully. This did not last long, however, as chaos ensued shortly thereafter. It began with the looting of Target, a store that has since been set on fire and turned inside out. Neo Marxists on social media celebrated the robbery that took place, claiming that Target is a beneficiary of the capitalist system that they allege actively oppresses minorities. Unfortunately, legitimate cries for justice have been drowned out by a mob that subscribes to intersectional theory, class warfare, and racial division.
The narrative pushed by many in the media – that police officers regularly perpetrate violence against people of color – has led to attacks on innocent members of the force just trying to do their job. In California, highway patrol officers were attacked by a violent mob that smashed objects through their cruiser windows. Similar instances of violence have popped up around the country. It is not that long ago that two NYPD officers, Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, were assassinated in cold blood. Calls for violence against police are not limited to the fringes of the anti-cop movement. A man by the name of Quintin Riddley wrote a Facebook post on Tuesday morning glorifying a monster who murdered five officers. The post received over six thousand likes and almost forty-four thousand shares.
When instances of racism and police brutality arise, they must be addressed swiftly and decisively. In the George Floyd case, this has happened, as Derek Chauvin has been arrested and charged with third degree murder. No one should be discriminated against or subjected to excessive force due to the color of their skin. The United States has made a great deal of progress with regard to curbing racial injustice and ensuring all citizens are equal under the law. That said, despite our best efforts, it is impossible to end racism. Individual instances of prejudice will persist, just as other repugnant actions and beliefs have throughout world history. It is our responsibility, as a society, to collectively decide what we consider just and unjust. Most Americans are decent people who have zero tolerance for hate, and hence, there has been universal condemnation of the death of George Floyd.
Politics is the pursuit of truth. When discussing a subject as delicate as race in America, it is important to treat allegations of systematic racism seriously. Claims that white supremacy is systematically embedded in the criminal justice system are false. Statistically, there is little evidence to prove that police officers disproportionately kill people of color. A study published in 2016 by Roland Fryer, an African American economist at Harvard, found that after accounting for other variables, there was no evidence of racial discrimination in officer involved shootings.
Railing against the police will not relieve the plight of minorities. The best way to elevate the African American community is through investing in economic and educational opportunities. Burning down businesses and destroying property will not help uplift anyone – it only makes things worse.
It is of great importance to make sure that every American, regardless of race, color, or creed, is given a fair shot at the American dream. We should all stand united to condemn instances of racism in the strongest terms. May George Floyd rest in peace, and may those involved in his wrongful death be brought to justice.
