“Who doesn’t know history it is doomed to repeat it”

George Santayana

28 years ago Los Angeles streets was -literally- on fire when 4 police officers were exonerated of the abusive beating of Rodney King, an African-American man. Back in March of 1991, King was on parole for robbery who led a high speeding pursuit with the LA police. As the persecution stopped the officers ask King to bring himself out of the car when they proceed to hit him steadily with batons for about 15 minutes. The scenery was completely disgusting, a dozen of policemen did nothing other than obnoxious comments about the beating. This premeditated incident cost King several injuries including, skull fractures, broken bones, teeth, and brain damage.

Eventually – a year later- 4 officers were arrested with the cause of excessive use of force. They were not found guilty of the charges, decision taken by a jury of 12, 9 of them white men, residents from the Suburbs of Ventura County. The verdict created chaos in the city. The citizens decided to make justice through violence, destroying everything in their path including stores, fast food restaurants, and vehicles, all-and-all demanding justice.

Fast-forward to the present, minorities have mourn another tragic scene. George Floyd death is all over the media, victim of another case of police brutality. He was apprehended this Monday in Minneapolis, accused of suspicious activity, using counterfeit money to pay for his groceries at “Cup Foods”. As part of store protocol, Floyd was asked to leave the premises, followed by the staff calling the police about the incident and Floyd’s arrest in front of the store. According to the testimony of Mahmoud Abumayyaleh -the store owner- there was no resistance from Floyd, yet he was still brutally murdered by the police officer, implying that Floyd was having a violent attitude towards them (police officers at the scene). The officer decided to retain Floyd by kneeling on his neck, eventually leading to Floyd’s undeserved death. This incident was recorded as ocular proof by some citizens at the scene who were constantly asking the officer to let him go.

Those are some of the last words Floyd barely could say during his final moments being strangled to death on the pavement. Anyone who has the courage watch the development of this unfortunate event, can see for themselves how this entire situation unraveled as an intentional attempt of murder. A man begging for help for 6-8 minutes, an officer acting like Floyd was dangerous, strangling this man to his death. He was never inside the patrol, they would not let him in, four officers were at the scene and none of them do a thing but to make sure he died. According to the camera footage from the store, he was not resistant to the arrest. That is just proof about this entire situation was out of control and completely unnecessary. Even if he was resisting that would never be the way to treat another individual. While He continuously begged to be “released” and “for some water or something because he couldn’t breathe”. He was arrested, attacked under racial discrimination, and treated inhumanly.

These stories have the same narrative with two decades of difference, with citizens dennying the fact that racism is still out there. Rodney King and George Floyd, were just victims of this sick and corrupted system. It bring my tears out, my heart starts beating faster and faster, I have seen a man in pain, a man who wanted to live and who fought for his life until the end. It is time to put a stop to this and scream #BlackLivesMatters with full force. This community it is the most attack by supremacists for centuries, you can feel the fury and hunger of people wanting justice to be served, protesting for their rights.

You can become part of this movement of justice by texting “Floyd” to “55156”, and proceed to fill the petition to make sure Floyd gets the justice he deserves.

I had seen many reactions all over my social media and it is sad for those who might feel unsafe right now by those who were supposed to protect them. We must gather our courage and fight for those who cannot; we must show the world that we are all the same, we are all humans. Rodney and George have suffered the consequences of racial discrimination and it should be stopped. Racism is pandemic, it destroys the hearts and takes the lives of innocent people. We should never feel worthless by the color of our skin. Racism should be eradicated and that would only start with you and me. We are privileged for what we are. As Nelson Mandela once said:

“No one is born hating someone else because of the color of their skin, because of their origin or even their religion. To hate, people need to learn, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love”