Wed 17 Jun 2020, 07:22 AM | Posted by editor
LETTER from Mark Langabeer, Newton Abbot Labour Party member
The BBC’s Clive Myrie has reported on US affairs for over 25 years yet in Panorama this week, even he described the events following George Floyd’s killing as the “biggest movement for fifty years”. Myrie was able to piece together what happen on the day of Floyd’s death. He interviewed the owner of the Cup Food Grocery Store, who described Floyd as a ‘regular’ who was a big guy with an amiable personality. On this occasion, he presented a forged $20 note to buy fags. Staff called police, thinking that he was under the influence of drugs.
Witnesses said that it looked like a ‘routine’ matter, but it quickly developed into a major incident with three police officers pinning Floyd on the ground. A witness, Donald William, urged the officer who was using his knee on Floyd’s neck to stop. The neck restraint continued even after paramedics had arrived. The Officer, later identified as Derrick Shauvin, had a history of complaints about his conduct. All four officers are now facing charges of manslaughter and related offences. It was the spark that led to demonstrations all across the cities of America and outside of the US.
As the Floyd killing took place in the town of Minneapolis, Myrie concentrated his enquiries and interviews within the city. He interviewed Tyrone Hartwell, a member of a group called the Free Riders, who openly carry guns on demos and were set up because they believe that black premises have been targeted by white supremacists. Myrie interviewed Eric Lukes, a black Minneapolis police officer of 28 years, who retired in 2016. He stated that he and other black officers would discuss racism, but most white officers would deny its existence. He added that he had used the knee on the neck restraint but felt that the main issue was the length of time in which it was used.
Demonstrations on freeways
Myrie interviewed Royce White, a former basketball player, now involved in organising demonstrations on freeways leading into Minneapolis. He said that this movement was ‘not over by a long shot’. Also significant is the number of white people involved in the Black Lives Matter movement. Penny Sitz, who lives in the more affluent suburbs of Minneapolis, said that until the Floyd killing, she believed that racism was something that was in the past.
Myrie pointed out that many in the corporate world are supporting this movement. Nascar, a sponsor of racing events, has removed the Confederate flag from its events. Likewise, the NFL have ended its opposition to players that have publicly supported Black Lives Matter campaigns. Myrie interviewed, Charlie Sykes, a well-known conservative commentator, who no longer believes that the police just suffer from having ‘a few bad apples’. The problem is systemic, he admitted, and needs root and branch reform.
A former pollster for Obama, made the point that Trump’s dispersal of peaceful protesters outside the White House just to have a photo opportunity, won’t be forgotten. The police force was born out of capturing escaped slaves and enforcing segregation and even today, a black man is two and half times more likely to die at the hands of police, than a white man. He suggested that racial discrimination and police brutality would loom large in the forthcoming presidential election.
The Panorama programme is worth watching and can be caught up on BBC i-player, here.
