I could not watch the entire video of George Floyd being slowly killed by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. I had to stop it after a very short time because it was so disturbing. I had not realized that Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, an incredibly long time. Floyd became non-responsive after about six minutes and at that point, at the urging of the crowd that was at the scene, another police officer checked for, but could not find, a pulse but Chauvin continued to keep his knee on his neck. The BBC has published a time line of the 30 minutes before George Floyd’s murder.
I received the text of Floyd’s last words and it is disturbing in a different way from the video because it is so poignant.
“It’s my face man
I didn’t do nothing serious man
please
please
please I can’t breathe
please man
please somebody
please man
I can’t breathe
I can’t breathe
Please
(Inaudible)
man can’t breathe, my face
just get up
I can’t breathe
please (inaudible)
I can’t breathe sh*t
I will
I can’t move
mama
mama
I can’t
my knee
my nuts
I’m through
I’m through
I’m claustrophobic
my stomach hurt
my neck hurts
everything hurts
some water or something
please
please
I can’t breathe officer
don’t kill me
they gon’ kill me man
come on man
I cannot breathe
I cannot breathe
they gon’ kill me
they gon’ kill me
I can’t breathe
I can’t breathe
please sir
please
please
please I can’t breathe”
Then his eyes shut and the pleas stop. George Floyd was pronounced dead shortly after.
#justiceforfloyd
You wonder how any person could ignore someone pleading for his life in that way. You have to be a stone-cold sociopath to do so.
I had not realized that Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, an incredibly long time.
A lifetime.
Haunting.
And sociopath — even psychopath — is the right word for Chauvin. I can’t imagine how “on guard” you would have to be to even be around someone like him, even when he’s friendly. As has been pointed out elsewhere, it’s not a coincidence that his wife waited until he was in custody to file for divorce.
No. This is just the end result of othering combined with the “them VS us” and “we’re at war” mentality that get inculcated with the “thin blue line” mantra. Garnish with an unhealthy dose of being jaded after seeing the bad side of humanity and due to confirmation bias (thanks to that othering) only remembering it is the kind of ‘animal’ he’s currently on top, one that will lie, cheat and kill without remorse and will go after him once he believes the lie that his current enemy is choking and relents.
To get rid of this will take generations since it requires a mentality change not only of what it means to be a cop but also a change to the how other population groups are being treated.
And some call it “hyperbole” to descibe cops as the blue klux klan.
IN MEMORY OF GEORGE FLOYD
…….I can’t breathe…
THE LAST MINUTES
I knew for sure,
that the very moment I opened up my eyes,
the day was going to be great.
The moment I stepped out and leaned against that door,
I knew I would walk right back into my house.
My God, my God! I can’t forget,
that fresh breath I inhaled,
my eyes closed and head high,
towards the blue white skies, I soar.
For a minute, it was a dream,
in seconds, it was a reality.
My hands now cuffed and their weights on my back
the pain in my chest saw the marrow that’s stained
for my breath so fresh slowly withered as I chocked
my strength grew faint as their intent took a hold.
Helplessly I cried, “My breath guys, I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe,”
to the one hope I know, that my identity can’t be explained,
Mama, mama, can’t make it home this time,
I can’t breathe, I can’t brea, I ca.”
Rest in Peace- George Floyd
We are with you America, one love one people and equal rights to all Americans. Let us all stand for true justice for all Americans, black or white.
Down with racism, we can’t breathe under it’s claws.
How would you like it if I held my knee to your neck as plead for mercy??