Enough is Enough

Opinion by Anonymous

Enough is enough. Not only has George Floyd’s death rekindled the strength of a mass movement for justice, but it has reawakened and enlarged the recognition and response to people of color. It is sickening and disappointing to see how harsh policemen can be towards others, you were trained to protect us, not hurt us for practicing the First Amendment in which our voices our heard. Police brutality takes upon several interpretations by many people. Some cops do not deserve their badge while others do, but the real problem here is why are the deaths of people like George Floyd so common, especially when they have done nothing wrong. What is it that makes people like George Floyd top-tier targets of police brutality? The answer lies with their skin, not with their character. This country is built on equality according to our founding fathers, but sadly that is not so. Death after death, video after video, voice after voice...when will things change? Sometimes we have to face the harsh reality that not everyone will agree, or fight for same things, but being able to face that harsh reality is what makes things possible. Understanding the obstacles we have to pass in order to publicly speak for the voices that go unheard, for the families that are left broken, for the same rights that everyone is entitled to, is a part of the process. There is something wrong with the American system; the American dream simply does not exist, and it falls short from everyone’s dream.

Now, there is something called “the blue wall of silence.” The blue wall of silence is a code and part of “cop culture” where police officers do not report on a colleague’s misconducts and crimes. What does this blue wall of silence tell us about the police force? The answer is simple – systemic corruption. We need to break that blue wall of silence with our voices and actions. In 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court held that officers are given the benefit of the doubt and that is evident. Derek Chauvin had 17 complaints held against him, seventeen. And he has JUST been arrested and convicted for the death of George Floyd, it took a video and several petitions just to get Chauvin arrested. Who’s next? Whose life do we have to fight for next? Black lives should always matter. They are human, they feel and love, we cannot let any officer or individual oppress them because of the color of their skin. As a new generation, we need to fight for change. The phrase “not all cops are bad” is perceived to have several meanings. Some support it and some don’t, but what we have to take into account is that destroying and vandalizing police cars and buildings is a misrepresentation of who we are as a whole and the message we want to give. What is the point in publicly humiliating cops? We want to send out the right message – we need to challenge them in a civil way. Instead, question them or remind them of who they are and that the “blue wall of silence” that many cops work by should NOT be a “norm” within the system. The blue wall of silence is dangerous and it needs to be taken down.

Furthermore, the word protest has various definitions. Are they peaceful? Violent? A threat? We simply cannot agree on and pinpoint the right word to describe these protests, but we can all agree that people want change and they want it now. Some protests do turn violent, but who is at fault? The people out with signs and voices, or the people with tear gas and rubber bullets? The fact that the exportation of tear gas and rubber bullets from the UK was stopped, is a big red flag. I am not saying that violence among these protests relies solely on the police officers, but a protest turned violent shouldn’t be ignored. Tear gas and rubber bullets are the police’s “defense,” but why and how. Why were they not used when white men and women were armed and spitting in their faces during corona? After all, they were armed while the people in black lives matter protests hold up signs. We are challenging the institutional racism that purges this country and the globe. Sometimes I feel that while the condition of many of these protests is important to consider, people who have the authority to instill governmental changes focus more on the nature of these protests rather than the message. I am certain that we will not remain silent. We will take into consideration the privilege we have and USE it. Fifty-seven cops resigned in Buffalo, New York after one of their fellow police officers pushed and injured an old man. Officers in Miami walked and kneeled with the protestors. Large corporations like Nike, Chipotle, Netflix, and HBO have supported the movement with donations and statements through social media platforms. We cannot stop now. We need to keep fighting with and for black lives because they truly matter. Black lives are valuable. We are all made the same, despite the color of our skin. The color of someone’s skin cannot be a barrier to a better life; the wall of silence will be broken, black lives will be better, justice will be served.

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Credits

Derek Gee/Buffalo News