By: Emma Yuan
In the past decades, racial justice has made headlines throughout the nation. Comrades have joined hands in determination to bring about a call for equality, deserved by all. However, as shown time and time again, there are others who fail to hear its voice.
On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was choked to death by police officer Derek Chauvin. Three other officers were also noted to have taken part in this tragedy. This incident has further unveiled the web of corruption that has concealed itself within our ranks. Under the Department of Justice’s evaluation, a landslide of violations in the police code were reported, with many more yet to be uncovered.
Floyd’s death was not the first example of police discrimination. Complaints have been filed for years, and yet it takes death to finally bring these instances to light. Even as rot is molded out from the police force, citizens of Minneapolis continue to remain distrustful. Like the roots of a weed, authorities have allowed these atrocities to grow, making it impossible to guarantee that they won’t continue to compromise us. T.J. Johnson is one of the many residents of Minneapolis declaring distrust of the police force. In an interview, he was said to have registered for a gun license, choosing to take his safety in his own hands rather than entrust it to the police. Moon Thomas, who has lived in Minnesota for decades, stated that she wouldn’t go to a police officer even if her life was in danger.
On the flip side, many police officers have been wrongfully judged by the actions of their predecessors. Some claim that the ones committing the atrocities they are condemned for have been removed, leaving them to deal with the repercussions of their crimes. In the past three years, the police force has gotten significantly lighter. With crime rates high and security forces low, officers are forced to work harder than ever to keep the city in check. Officers surveyed say they are hopeful for changes to be made along their task force, but also believe the heroic deeds and intent of the majority have been overlooked in light of the tragedies. Officer Andrew Schroeder insisted that the officers that remained were good people with passion for the community who were tired of being accused of racism. Within their ranks, Commander Yolanda Wilks works to restore trust in the police force.
The fact remains that a rift has been cleaved between the citizens and the police of Minneapolis. As we are meant to put our security in the hands of our officers, that becomes exceedingly difficult when safety is no longer ensured in their presence.