| Christine T. Nguyen | MPR News
June 20, 2020
Anguish, fear, hope: Voices of Minnesotans on the aftermath of Floyd killing | |
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Good morning. Today, more than three weeks after George Floyd’s killing by a Minneapolis police officer, Minnesotans living in the Twin Cities and elsewhere continue to call for justice and racial equality, as they struggle to heal the repeated pain and trauma.
In the wake of Floyd’s killing, we asked Minnesotans in the Twin Cities metro area to share their thoughts and experiences around his death and its aftermath. From fear and trauma to hope for changes, this newsletter will showcase these voices, with a COVID-19 update and forecast at the bottom.
‘This is bigger than just police brutality’
This is overdue. Black Minnesotans have been treated horribly for years. I've been black my whole life. We don't fit in, we aren't welcome, we aren't invited to the cabin, we aren't paid enough no matter what degrees or experience we have, we are born disadvantaged here. This is bigger than just police brutality. This is a whole system of oppression that has to be broken.
I hope leaders and those in power open their minds and hearts to change our nation. We should be contracted with to start community programs [where] we are the experts, [but] we don't have a seat at the table. We will make our own table if we have to, we, as a people, are only getting smarter.
— Lakeisha Lee
‘So much history adds to this situation’
There is so much history that adds to this current situation and I have lived through a lot of it. The killing of George Floyd is heartbreaking and disgusting. The state of our race relations is sadly not improving.
I'm a black father I have seven kids, plus countless employees and friends that I have to help them manage through their pain, anger, sadness and confusion. I love what I do but it does get hard. Staying positive and uplifting can be exhausting especially when you are as hurt and loss as them who look to you for comfort and guidance. The killing of George Floyd is heartbreaking and disgusting and has ignited a unbearable pain.
— Kerry Sutherland
Floyd died at the hands of those who should protect us Our hearts hurt so much for this worlds great loss of George Floyd. I took my son near the 3rd Precinct so he could see what happened and to discuss why it happened. My son, who is 6 years old, was shocked to see the destruction in our streets, but more devastated that George Floyd died at the hands of the very people who are supposed to protect us. We will continue to pray for the family and friends of George Floyd.
— Molly
It makes me question — who can I trust?
The words that I would associate with the riots is overwhelming. I've been struggling with Floyd's death, and all the violence that is happening with white supremacists and the police makes me question who I can trust. As a black man in a fairly white neighborhood, I am more cautious and wonder what other white people think about me as I pass by. I also get more nervous for being pulled over when I'm driving.
— Josiah Tusler
‘The system failed George’
I'm pregnant with my first child and I have been emotional watching that man call for his mother hopeless before he was killed, yelling out "I can't breath, please give me some water, please … Mama, I can't breath". This has made me cry and broke something inside of me.
I can never erase the image of that police pressing his knee on George, killing him to death and than dragging his body on the paramedics' slide board without supporting or protecting his head. The paramedics did not do their job properly and the cops killed George. The system failed George. This needs to end.
— Amal
To share your voice, send us a message.
Here are the latest coronavirus statistics:
32,031 cases confirmed (362 new) via 475,152 tests1,361 deaths (17 new)3,748 cases requiring hospitalization 339 people remain hospitalized; 168 in intensive care27,709 patients no longer needing isolation Your forecast is here and there’s always more on the weather at Updraft. |
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