George Floyd, a 46-year-old unarmed black man, was pinned down and killed by a Minneapolis Police Officer on May 25th, 2020. Floyd was accused of buying groceries with a counterfeit $20 bill, a non-violent offense. For four minutes, Floyd was heard on video telling police at least a dozen times that he can’t breathe and asking the police to take his knee off his neck. Bystanders, including the grocery clerk who initially called 911, plead with the officers to let Floyd get up. "Please, I can't breathe" he said, but the police continued until he became unconscious and died. Amongst his last words were "Please don't kill me".
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Going jogging. #AhmaudArbery
Relaxing in the comfort of their own home. #BothemJean and #AtatianaJefferson and #BreonnaTaylor Asking for help after a car crash. #JonathonFerrell and #RenishaMcBride Having a self phone #StephonClark Leaving a party to get to safety #JordanEdwards Playing loud music #JordanDavis Selling CD's #AltonSterling Sleeping #AiyanaJones Walking from the corner store #MikeBrown Playing cops and robbers #TamirRice Going to church #Charleston9 Walking home with skittles #TrayvonMartin Holding a hair brush while leaving his bachelor party #SeanBell Partying on New Years #OscarGrant Getting a normal traffic ticket #SandraBland Lawfully carrying a weapon #PhilandoCastile Breaking down with car problems on the road #CoreyJones Shopping at Walmart #JohnCrawford Having a disabled car #KeithScott Walking with his grandfather at 10 years old #CliffordGlover Decorating for a party #ClaudeReese Asking a cop a question #RandyEvans Cashing out a check #YvonneSmallwood Taking out a wallet #AmadouDiallo Running #WalterScott Selling Cigarettes #EricGarner BLACK LIVES MATTER Michael Brown was 18 years old when he was shot and killed on August 9, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. He was unarmed, walking with a friend in the street when a cop approached them and asked them to walk on the side walk. Witnesses say Michael Brown had his hands in the air to indicate he was unarmed when Darren Wilson, a 28-year-old white cop shot him 12 times. In November of 2014, a grand jury decided not to indict Wilson. The Justice Department found that the police in the area had excessively stopped and ticketed their black residents, viewing their black constituents "less as constituents to be protected than as potential offenders and sources of revenue."
Eric Garner, a father of 6, was killed on July 17, 2014 in New York. Police tried to arrest him for allegedly selling cigarettes. He raised both hands in the air and asked them not to shoot him. Seconds later, he was put in a choke hold, even though NYP prohibits the use of chokeholds. Eric Garner repeatedly stated "I can't breathe! I can't breathe!" due to his asthma and the choke hold, yet the officers continued to restrain him on the ground and did not budge. Eric Garner died and police claimed he suffered a heart attack, but the death was ruled a homicide. The jury failed to indict the officer that killed him. New York City later settled with Garner's family, but never admitted liability.
Trayvon Martin was an unarmed 17 year old killed by George Zimmerman on February 26, 2012. Trayvon left his house to purchase skittles and iced tea. His murderer, Zimmerman, who was on neighborhood watch, called the police at 7:11 to report a "suspicious guy". Zimmerman had previously reported individuals who seemed "suspicious" without reason. All were black. Zimmerman began to follow the Trayvon. Footage of Trayvon at 7-11 shows no criminal or aggressive behavior. When Trayvon noticed he was being followed, he began to run. The confrontation ended with Zimmerman shooting this unarmed black teen in the chest, killing him less than 100 yards from the home he was staying in. Zimmerman pleaded not guilty and claimed self defense. On July 13, 2013 Zimmerman was found not guilty. An image of Martin wearing a hoodie became iconic. Professional athletes wore hoodies, and protestors repeated the phrase: "I am Trayvon Martin" to express their outrage. Martin's death inspired President Barack Obama to deliver a heartfelt message to Martin's parents, saying, "If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon." Trayvon's death and the lack of justice sparked the Black Lives Matter Movement.
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