For many, the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, at the hands of white police officers in Minneapolis last week was just the tipping point.
During an interview on BLACK ENTERPRISE’s The New Norm with Selena Hill, civil rights attorney Areva Martin shared her legal expertise on Floyd’s death, the officers involved in his killing, and how voting can combat systemic racism.
The Trauma of Watching George Floyd Death’s
Martin revealed that she had trouble watching the 10-minute video recording of Floyd as he repeatedly told police “I can’t breathe” while a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck and back while three other officers watched on and didn’t intervene.
“I Can’t Breathe”
The legal commentator and talk show host pointed out the eerie similarities between Floyd’s death and that of Eric Garner, who died in 2014 after a New York City police officer placed him in a chokehold while he repeatedly said: “I can ‘t breathe.”
The attorney and best-selling author went on to state that the 2020 presidential election will have a huge impact on communities of color since the president has the power to appoint an attorney general who sets policies that could lead to more police oversight and reform, in addition to appointing federal judges around the country and Supreme Court Justices.
