The murder of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African-American man, by police officer Derek Chauvin on May 25 in Minneapolis, in the U.S. Midwest, has sparked protests that began in that city and have multiplied to 49 others. Authorities in at least 40 cities have declared states of emergency and imposed curfews, including New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Chicago, Denver, Columbus, BBC Mundo reports.
There have also been riots, looting and attacks on private property. The National Guard is on the streets in 15 states.
In places like Brooklyn, protest organizers set up a barrier in front of a Target to prevent looting, Andrew Solender of Forbes magazine reported.
In some cases, other police have shown solidarity with the protest. Officers from the Miami-Dade Police Chiefs Association knelt when the protesters arrived at Coral Gables police headquarters, “as a sign of respect and support to protesters for the death of George Floyd, La República reported.
“I can’t breathe,” which is what Floyd said as he choked under the knee that Chauvin placed on his neck for more than eight minutes, became a slogan of the protests. As days went by, “No justice, no peace” also appeared.
Latinas and Latinos in the United States are joining the demonstrations. In addition to being the ones who are now most affected by the coronavirus pandemic, with African Americans, both communities share the experience of segregation and police brutality.
“We have endured too much and it is reflected not only in the death of this man but in the deaths of many. And not only African Americans but also immigrants and myself as an Afro-Latino and Afro-Caribbean I identify with my brothers and sisters out there,” Patricia Encarnacion told Spectrum News while participating in a protest in Harlem, New York.
In addition, activists from several Latino organizations in the United States have spoken out about Floyd’s murder. Here are the statements of some of them:
Latino Justice. Latino Justice is an organization that advocates for “transformative, equitable and accessible” justice for the Latino community, through leaders born out of the community itself. Juan Cartagena, president of the organization, signed a statement explaining the context of the murder of Floyd and other people of color at the hands of the police.
“Multiple police officers witnessed their murders and did nothing to stop the choking; did nothing to aid them.”
And he stated: ” As members of the Latinx community who have suffered the devastating pain of having loved ones killed by police, including ICE and CBP, at the hands of brutal police violence that systematically targets and exterminates the lives of people of color, we unequivocally say, Black lives matter!.
“This must stop now,” he added. And he recommended that members of the Latino community support local policies in their cities that require police to intervene when they witness the use of excessive force by other officers; that they require special prosecutors to investigate and bring criminal charges to police that use lethal force; and that they require law enforcement agencies to apply de-escalation of these practices in all instances.
” These and other steps may help avoid the next use of unwarranted, deadly force. But until then, stop the killing of Black people! Let them breathe!” the statement said.
Latino Consortium for Action. The Latino Consortium for Action is a coalition of leaders of Latino organizations, professional associations and educational groups in Dane County, Wisconsin, in the Midwest. They issued a statement signed by 20 of those leaders, which also referred to the fact that other police officers witnessed Chauvin murder Floyd.
” This is not an isolated incident but rather a long-standing and accepted practice used against our black sisters and brothers. IT MUST END NOW!” the statement said.
“We stand in solidarity with all who organize against and resist ANY and all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia and intolerance. We commit to do our part to hold individuals and institutional structures that allow the perpetuation of these violent acts accountable. We commit to continue to engage in local actions that link to national struggles that seek just societal change,” they added.
And they called on people to join in “work to end racial injustice and join in collective struggle”. “We all have a role, from grass-roots work to policy changes to political involvement to listening and supporting community leadership”,
“No more police brutality. No more children in cages. End profiteering in our criminal justice system,” the statement concluded.
Latino Victory. Latino Victory is an organization that advocates to empowering Latino voters and to promoting Latino leadership as a force for change, and consequently increasing Hispanic representation in all levels of government, “from the school board to the Senate and the White House.“
“Today, tomorrow, and every single day #BlackLivesMatter. To our Black brothers and sisters: we see you, we fight with you, and we fight alongside you,” the organization posted on Twitter.
They also addressed Latinos and Latinas: “The time to step up and take concrete action to deconstruct anti-Blackness in our community is now. That means, actively calling out family & friends about their anti-Blackness, intentionally elevating Black Latinos, & much more.”
Movimiento Afrolatino Seattle. This is an “umbrella organization” of Afro-Latino communities that promote the preservation of Afro-Latino cultural heritage through art. ” We are stronger united than we are divided” is their “shared vision”.
The murder of George Floyd ” reflects once again the need and relevance of our work in the fight to continue making visible the power of our communities, the history that has been taken from us. It is imperative to continue dismantling the system that oppresses and generates violence against black people,” a statement issued in response to Floyd’s murder says.
“Today we unite to illuminate the path of George Floyd in his encounter with the ancestors, and celebrate his life that will continue to guide our path of healing and strengthening to achieve reparation. In us the challenge remains to continue working and demanding justice, denouncing inhuman acts and abuse against our communities, breaking structures that perpetuate inequality, racism and xenophobia. We will continue imagining and building a world where our voices are truly heard”, they concluded.
The reflection on racism in the Latino community itself that Latino Victory talked about in their tweet served as an introduction to an article by Remezcla they shared. Andrew Vargas wrote it four years ago, in 2016. Vargas discussed that racism against blacks that is also present in the Latino community as they seek to make a place for themselves within “the American dream.”
“As Latinos – which is, itself a designation of ethnicity, not race – we often find ourselves struggling to stake out a place within this rigid racial landscape, while dealing with our own internalized biases and societal pressures to assimilate into whiteness,” he wrote.
And he added: “As with other minority groups that have come before us, white supremacy seduces with its promise of prosperity and happiness — the door to the American dream — while our own internalized cultural histories often erase the contributions of Afro-descendants to the past and present of Latinidad. So rather than taking this latest tragic spate of police killings as an opportunity to express our solidarity or talk about our shared struggle with African Americans, let’s take this as an opportunity to reflect on anti-blackness in our own communities, and take concrete steps to decolonize our minds, our families, and our people.”
“As with other minority groups before us, white supremacy seduces with its promise of prosperity and happiness — the gateway to the American dream — while our own internal cultural histories erase the contributions of people of African descent to the past and present of Latinos. (…) Let us take this opportunity to reflect on antiblackness in our own communities and take concrete action to decolonize our minds, our families, and our people.
Image taken from the People of Color Art Collective Instagram account