For more than a week, a national wave of protests have broken out in response to the brazen murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. This unexpected political development emerged in the midst of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. With over 100,000 Americans who have lost their lives to this virus, the highly publicized case of police murder sparked a response that could not be stifled. While a virus disproportionately killed and ravaged the Black community, this incident––as well as all of the other recent happenstances of police killings––has compounded the suffering of Black America. Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor are among many of the other most recent lives stolen by racists. Many have likened this particular moment in American history to Black America having to fight a war on two fronts.
With the longstanding history of police brutality, murder, and misconduct directed at this community, this compounded with the ongoing pandemic is arguably resulting in a moment of historical trauma. There is somewhat of a parallel to the Red Summer of 1919, a period defined by a wave of racist murders directed at Black Americans which followed the 1918 influenza pandemic. This spontaneous outburst of mass protests, might have just prevented American history from repeating itself. American protesters have decided that enough was enough.
Initially breaking out in Minneapolis, and spreading around the country, this uprising manifested itself in small towns and major cities all around the country. The protesters risked their health and safety to build the necessary public pressure to reform unjust policing practices. It is not a small point to note that the crackdown on the protests was much more rapid, and deliberate, than the initial response to the pandemic. Personal protective equipment was sparse, but tear gas and rubber bullets were in abundance. The mass protests have pointed out, and illustrated in real time the lopsided priorities of the country.
The heavy handed reaction by police departments around this nation came into such a sharp focus that it garnered international attention. Calls became louder and louder to demilitarize the police, as everyone witnessed far too many instances of them behaving as an occupying army. The shelter-in-place was accompanied by a curfew. An occurrence where we saw a ratcheting up of abuses, with even essential workers––who were originally not supposed to be singled out in policing efforts––becoming targets of harassment and arrest.
This outcry has forced politicians to respond: taking the form of the “Justice in Policing Act.” Regardless of how the uprising is seen, it was successful in shifting the conversation towards necessary reforms in American policing.
These protests not only present an opportunity to reshape the policies in policing, but they also have the potential to advocate for a broader set of concerns. Mayor De Blasio has pledged that his administration will divert funding from the NYPD to social services. Perhaps in this newfound spirit of reform, the mayor will see fit to restore the Summer Youth Employment Program.
This mass movement is just the pushback that is needed against budget cuts, and further austerity measures that reduce the quality of life for everyone. These protests have succeeded where official electoral politics have failed. With 20% of Americans out of work, there will be a dire need for resources to assist millions in getting back to work safely. To cease the discussion of needed reforms at law enforcement stops short of some of the underlying conditions that Americans face in general.
There must be a re-allocation of resources that goes towards not only testing, but treatment of the coronavirus in the absence of a vaccine. In order for these shows of solidarity to amount to something tangible, funding must be expanded towards areas such as health care, education, and housing. Out of this most recent development, with continued advocacy, hopefully a new normal will be created out of burning necessity. The old “normal” wasn’t all that great to begin with.
Marc W. Polite is an award winning writer from New York City.