In the wake of the murder of African American George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis, protests have spread through the US. Thousands have reacted to this injustice and taken a stand, with initial demonstrations in Minneapolis expanding to over 100 cities across the United States. Protests were also seen in the UK, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Canada, and Germany, amongst others. 

CALLS FOR SOCIAL COHESION

In response to these protests, United Nations (UN) spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated; “the situation we’re seeing today we’ve seen in different parts of the world before.” Dujarric reiterated the statement of UN chief Antonio Guterres that “grievances must be heard, but they must be expressed in peaceful ways, and authorities must show restraint in reacting to them.” This is in reference to the violent policing employed in many American cities, with the National Guard activated in “at least 23 states” as of 2nd June, and riot police firing tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters. 

Dujarric went on to state that “diversity is a richness and not a threat, but the success of diverse societies in any country requires a massive investment in social cohesion.” 

NOT AN ISOLATED EVENT

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet condemned the killing of George Floyd, and highlighted that this is not a singular event, but the “latest in a long line of killings of unarmed African Americans by US police officers and members of the public.”

She stated that the US authorities must “take action to stop such killings, and to ensure justice is done when they do occur.” This statement stands in stark contrast to the historic lack of prosecutions against US police officers for suspected offences. The National Police Misconduct Reporting Project from April 2009 to December 2010 analysed 3,238 cases against police officers. Only 33% were convicted, and, of those convicted, only 36% served prison sentences. Furthermore, “police are half as likely to be convicted or incarcerated as civilians”, and police are more likely to receive shorter sentences than civilians. 

Michelle Bachelet went on to state that “procedures must change, prevention systems must be put in place, and above all police officers who resort to excessive use of force should be charged and convicted for the crimes committed.” This chimes with the aim of many of the protestors: there needs to be a long-term, fundamental change to the system to prevent such killings, and to prevent officers avoiding conviction.

 “The role that entrenched and pervasive racial discrimination plays in such deaths must be fully examined, properly recognised and dealt with,” Michelle Bachelet declared. 

The US is currently “experiencing the most widespread racial turbulence and civil unrest since Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated in 1968.” The riots that followed Dr. Martin Luther King’s death led to the Civil Rights Act of 1968.These current protests have the potential to also result in a fundamental long-term impact on the systematic racism highlighted by the death of George Floyd. 

Rebecca is a first year MLaw student at Northumbria University. She is interested in writing about human rights law in order to raise awareness about important issues and achieve progress through activism and advocating for the rights of others.

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