Dear friends,
These are the last words of George Floyd, a 46-year-old man who died as a US police officer pinned him down, kneeling on his neck for almost nine minutes:
"It's my face man
I didn't do nothing serious man
please
please
please I can't breathe
please man
please somebody
please man
I can't breathe
I can't breathe
please
(inaudible)
man can't breathe, my face
just get up
I can't breathe
please (inaudible)
I can't breathe sh*t
I will
I can't move
mama
mama
I can't
my knee
my nuts
I'm through
I'm through
I'm claustrophobic
my stomach hurt
my neck hurts
everything hurts
some water or something
please
please
I can't breathe officer
don't kill me
they gon' kill me man
come on man
I cannot breathe
I cannot breathe
they gon' kill me
they gon' kill me
I can't breathe
I can't breathe
please sir
please
please
please I can't breathe"
Then his eyes shut and the pleas stop. George Floyd was pronounced dead shortly after.
Right now, we have a choice. This can just be one more tragic death at the hands of US police -- or the moment for change.
We are a movement of more than 60 million people -- when we all speak up, we are deafening.
So let's raise our voices to join everyone calling for an end to these racist killings, and push those in power to do the same.
Sign this open letter with one click, and when it's massive, Avaaz will publish it in major US newspapers and websites around the world.
Let it be an anthem to end the killing and honour all those we've already lost. As people of the world, we grieve the senseless loss of another life at the hands of US police.
We stand in community with everyone who is hurting.
These brutal killings must end. Each is a wound to the heart of our humanity and a shameful, indelible mark on that great flag of the United States of America.
Racism thrives in the company of silence -- so we will not stay quiet. Racism is a problem that belongs to us all. It is our fight.
But we cannot allow that fight to become hatred, for then we are no wiser than those whose hearts we seek to change. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
It is in this spirit that we call on all those in power to act NOW, and hold President Trump and US state and local governments accountable to:
- Ensure all officers involved in the killing of George Floyd face legal due process,
- Expel and prosecute officers for even one instance of excessive force or the failure to intervene to prevent it,
- Ensure every police killing is independently and transparently investigated.
We pledge to do our part, meeting the fear, anger, and ignorance of racism with all the hope, love, and strength of our humanity.
Rest in Power, George Floyd.
It will not be in vain.
|
With endless hope,
Mike, Marie, Meetali, Sarah, Andrew, Ricken, Bert and the whole team at Avaaz.
More information:
Of Course There Are Protests. The State Is Failing Black People. (New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/29/opinion/george-floyd-minneapolis.html George Floyd killing: sister says officers should face murder charge as protests grow (The Guardian)
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/27/george-floyd-sister-police-officers-should-be-charged-with-murder 
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