LA riots, the George Floyd case, the role of the police, Black lives matter movement
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Death of Rodney King
Four Los Angeles police officers are acquitted after brutally beating an african american named Rodney King. -
Los Angeles riots
Shortly after Rodney King's death, in South Central LA (the poorest district of Los Angeles) the african american community raids on stores and buildings, killing more than 50 people. The riots will stop two days later. -
Beginning of Black Lives Matter movement
Sanford, Florida: a 17-year-old African-American, Trayvon Martin, he’s walking alone one evening when he’s shot and killed by a white man, Geroge Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch coordinator in his gated community (not legally in force). He was later charged, but eventually he was acquitted of second-degree murder. The event led to the beginning of the "Black Lives Matter" movement. -
Murder of George Floyd
George Floyd, suspected of using fake money to pay for cigarettes, is stopped by Minneapolis' police. He's pinned to the ground by a white policeman, who then kneels down on Mr.Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. He repeatetdly cried “i can't breath” but he wasn’t listened. After six minutes he stopped moving. -
Some changes
It’s been an year since the death of George Floyd. Within this period of time, many things have happened: some statues of historical slaves owners were torn down, and the confederate flag, which represented support for slavery, was banned from US marine bases. Various police reforms accoured in different cities: in Minneapolis PD was defunded; in Atlanta deadly force was limited; in NYC hundreds of millions were cut from PD and promised to be given to youth and social services.