By Henry MubiruThe 25th May marked one year since George Floyd, an African American man, was tragically murdered by police. His death reverberated far beyond Minneapolis. From police reform to decolonising U.S. history, last year’s racial reckoning sparked transformative conversations. It prompted many people to think about the racism they face in their own lives and saw protests in many different countries. Yet a year after the Floyd’s murder, the killings have not stopped. From Detroit, Michigan, to Laredo, Texas, they have continued to happen. There have been such deaths in 45 of the nation’s 50 states. In each of the cases, there is a constant: families, community members, and lawyers say there was no need for the officers to have used lethal force. Statistics have also shown a disproportionate number of those killed by police are young men of colour. In the year since George Floyd lost his life, there have been widespread calls for reform and more accountability, from defunding police forces and creating community protection groups, to dismantling the powerful police unions, who have long been blamed for protecting “bad apple” officers. Channel 4 spoke with some Black people in the UK about why George Floyd’s death meant so much to them and what they hope will change in this country – you can watch it here.
