It seems like we just can’t stop hearing those words echo across America. I’m utterly disgusted, angry, and sad about Officer Chauvin putting his knee on an unarmed Mr. George Floyd. I couldn’t even watch the entire video, it’s just too much to swallow. It’s hard to believe that we’re still fighting this type of oppression and racism in America.

2020 has been hard. We’re facing a global pandemic and forced to stay at home. On top of that, we’ve seen unemployment go up to record highs. It should be no surprise that people are tired, angry, sad, and dejected. What happened to George Floyd was the tipping point.

Enough is enough!

Although I’m not African American, I grew up with many friends that experienced oppression. African Americans are taught at an early age how to handle interaction with the police because it happens so much. They didn’t choose their skin color. None of this is their fault. What happened to George Floyd was not his fault. He did not deserve to die.

I wholeheartedly agree with protesting. This situation called for it. It is still ridiculous to me that the police officer in question was not charged for murder. No one should get away with murder especially when a man is cuffed and screaming “I can’t breathe!”

However, I don’t believe violence is the answer. It’s also not what great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fought so hard for.

The protest was an important move, but what’s next. How are you going to better yourself as a human being and fight for change? How are you going to work with your local politicians to ensure they understand your point of view? These are important next steps.

George Floyd did not die just to see protests. He died to show the world that there is more work to do and it’s time for more action.