Rochester Police Killing: Black Lives Matter

Days after the long protests against Police brutality, the Mayor of Rochester announced stepping down of the entire police command. This has led the protesters towards the road of peace and celebration. The day has brought justice to Daniel Prude and will be remembered by the generations. The USA's history of racial inequality has paved the way for another head start with equality and freedom for all. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere!

Black Lives Matter, a decentralized political and social movement advocating for non-violent civil disobedience. It initialises the eradication of white supremacy and aims to intervene in violence inflicted on the black community.

BLM: One of the largest movements in the history of the United States

Since the year 2013, Millions of people in hundreds of cities across the world are marching in support of Black Lives Matter. The protests have driven from social media to the streets. The hashtag Black Live Matters has been converted into a full-fledged movement. Humanity has lost all its credibility when it comes to equality amongst the races.

MARTIN LUTHER KING: THE HERO OF CIVIL RIGHTS

Martin Luther King always protested against injustice in society. All over the United States, there are buildings named after him. He rallied against social complacency & protected the freedom till his last breath. The time has constantly demanded a sustainable transformation in the face of injustice, brutality, and white supremacy.

MAY 25, 2020: THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD

George Floyd, a 46-year-old black American man died after an officer kept his knees on Floyd's neck for almost 9 minutes. Even after he claimed that he couldn't breathe, his hands were cuffed behind his back with his face and knees were pinned to the ground. The unequal treatment has fallen in the lives of minority Americans, the officers who sworn to protect the civilians have themselves become a reason for lives lost.

DEATH OF DANIEL PRUDE

On March 23, Daniel Prude, a 41-year old black man was undergoing a mental health crisis after ingesting PCP (drug). His brother called for assistance, Prude was found running on the streets of Rochester. He was unarmed, naked, and shivering in the cold. Soon after the officers caught him, he claimed to be COVID Positive, thereby his head was immediately covered with spit hood. The officers held him faced down for two minutes and fifteen seconds, this led to asphyxiation.

THE TRAGEDY BACK IN LIMELIGHT

This tragedy was brought back in public notice after Prude's family got access to a videotape and they saw the violence done to him. They released the tape on Wednesday September 2nd. Rochester's population has responded against police brutality.

The protest took a peaceful road for a while but on Friday the cops decided to fire flash bombs and pepper spray. The people of Rochester are demanding the resignation of all these accused senior officers including the mayor and the police chief and immediate arrest and a fast court for the police officers. A jury has been assigned to the State attorney. In today's protest, the Police have been reigned in. Black Lives cannot be targeted for demise.

CALL FOR A SUSTAINABLE TRANSFORMATION

According to The New York Times, there have been more than 4,700 demonstrations during the recent Black Lives Matter protests, an average of 140 per day. Estimates suggest there could have been as many as 26 million people who participated. Regressive Society with genocide is going to be havoc in the name of Humanity!

The fight for the lives of black people can only be won by combating and countering acts of violence, centering black joy, creating space for black imagination and innovation, and most importantly by providing justice to the lives lost due to human rights violations.

Black Lives Matter is a statement and push back on. Hundreds of years of slavery that was thrust on the African American community. The resistance against racism started decades ago but it still has not achieved what Martin Luther King set out for. A just world beyond colour. 

BLM is not just a moment, it's a movement for Black Lives Matter and Justice must Prevail!