Marching For Change
On Memorial Day, May 25th 2020, George Floyd an un armed, black man was killed in Minneapolis, MN at the hands of police. Soon large- scale protests erupted across US against police brutality. There were rallies in European & Asian cities in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. The protests were, for the most part, peaceful and were attended by a diverse crowd. A national discussion is happening on race relations, police brutality and social justice.
As a result, significant changes are happening all across municipalities, cities and states. Police chokehold and strangulation is prohibited by California, Florida, New York, Nevada, Washington & Connecticut States. Also, in city Police departments of Chicago, Seattle, Denver, Houston, Minneapolis, Phoenix and Washington, DC. Local administrations are moving funding from police department to social services, community policing and youth services. Police departments are reformed for more training, transparency and tolerance.
Racist symbols and slavery-linked icons are being taken down. State flags with confederate symbols are changed. Statues of Confederate generals and slave owners are toppled down or removed from city squares, state capitals and US Capitol plaza. Military bases are renamed. Corporations and companies are changing policies to have more diversity and inclusivity. Johnson & Johnson is coming up with BandAid to match darker skin color. Aunt Jamima pancake mix and Uncle Ben’s rice are rebranded. Sport Teams, like Washington Redskins, are changing names having racial overtones. NASCAR has banned the Confederate battle flag.
Remarkable times.
