As the world watches America set alight after several days of protests, abusive policing and looting as a consequence of yet another Black American man, George Floyd, having been murdered by a white police officer, drew to mind the death of Eric Garner. In 2014, Mr. Garner was killed in similar fashion as several police officers held him down, while another, Daniel Panteleo, wrapped his arm around his neck causing him to say, “I can’t breathe” 11 times, causing his death. The New York City Medical examiner found the choke hold had enough force leading to a fatal asthma attack, which he was afflicted, in addition to his chest being compressed and his having high blood pressure and ruled it was a homicide.
In 2013, The Black Lives Matter movement was founded after the death of Treyvon Martin, a black teenager shot and killed by a man who was acquitted. In 2014, the BLM organized the largest protest in Manhattan, New York City, for Eric Garner of which these photographs were taken. It was a winter day, in December 13th, where the crowd went for at least a half a mile or longer, as thousands of protesters, with an array of signs marched peacefully. There was an enormous police presence but they were restrained as the sounds of “No Justice, No Peace.” “Black Lives Matter”, among other chants.
George Floyd’s murder is yet another example of racist police brutality, that many in America thought would cease happening given the implementation of Police forces requiring body cams, and the Federal government intervening in monitoring when abuses occurred. The signs of Eric Garner are simply replaced with the signs of George Floyd. The similarity is the complete absence of progress towards the police and how they treat black people in the United States. Protests are an exercise in freedom of speech, freedom of assembly but have very little utility towards changing the way policing has been practiced in America towards its black citizens.
Burroughs Lamar
https://burroughslamarphotography.com/
