5 Years After George Floyd’s Murder, Racial Justice Push Continues
(Reuters): Shareeduh McGee is fighting to keep the memory of her cousin George Floyd alive. Millions took to roads across the world to protest the police killing of Floyd, a Black Minneapolis man who gasped ‘I can’t breathe,’ shortly before dying after an officer knelt on his neck for several minutes in May 2020.
His appeal became a rallying cry for the protest movement, demanding police accountability and racial justice. Corporations pledged substantial sums of money towards addressing systemic discrimination, and discussions about structural bigotry were propelled into the spotlight. However, specifically five years after Floyd’s murder, the nation has witnessed a significant reversal of support for racial equity efforts.
Commitments made by corporate America and the government have been rescinded or eliminated. Diversity, equity, and inclusion plans and programs are under scrutiny by President Donald Trump’s administration. Some of these rollbacks precede his return to the Oval Office.
Floyd’s murder was a significant sacrifice, and if opportunities are not created for people to learn from it and if changes do not occur due to that profound loss, then it has failed,’ McGee stated at a Houston event celebrating Floyd’s life. She added that she is disappointed but not surprised by the rollbacks and the Department of Justice’s decision to drop oversight prompted by Floyd and the police killings of other Black Americans.
Advocates acknowledge that the nationwide push for racial justice has persisted despite the lack of substantial reform but recognize the challenges ahead, describing it as a severe backlash to diversity efforts and civil rights.
Argument in Business America
Americans remain divided on the significance of companies making statements about politics or social issues. Rev. Al Sharpton, who delivered Floyd’s funeral eulogy and will commemorate the anniversary with Floyd’s family in Houston, is planning a major march on Wall Street in August to hold the private sector accountable.
Civil rights advocates have urged companies to increase minority leadership representation and invest in underserved communities. Some critics argue that the efforts have not been merit-based and emphasize the need for high standards.
Movement ‘at a Crossroads’
While some question the impact of the Black Lives Matter protests in the absence of sweeping reforms, experts believe the movement has shifted the national dialogue and narrative, prompting Americans to view Black individuals through a systemic lens of understanding racism in the USA.
The Movement for Black Lives, a national network of over 100 organizations, stated that their goal remains unchanged, focusing on state-level policy initiatives to address issues such as mental health funding and Black trans rights.
