We demanded justice after George Floyd's death. Donald Trump made things worse, but we fight on
Yesterday, I led a private memorial service at George Floyd's graveside, along with his family, in Houston, Texas. Once that was over, we visited the housing project where Floyd and his siblings grew up.
Half a decade after Floyd was taken from them, they were keen, as are we, to ensure his life and legacy will not be forgotten – and to remind the world why the fight for police accountability continues.
He died in front of the entire world. Everyone saw the phone footage of the incident where a white officer in Minneapolis kneeled on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes as he repeatedly said 'I can't breathe', and cried out for his mother. His desperate pleas for help were ignored by those sworn to serve and protect the public; but they were heard in every corner of the globe.
The movement for police reform gained renewed fire, and people from all walks of life demanded systemic change and the protection of Black lives. Five years later, while the officer convicted of Floyd's murder is behind bars, the current climate in the US and regressive actions from those in power have set us back and prevented substantive police accountability.
Just a few days shy of this sombre fifth anniversary, Donald Trump's department of justice announced that it would back away from cases to force reforms on police departments – including in Louisville, Kentucky, and in Minneapolis, the city where Floyd was killed. This outrageous decision is not a surprise; it is just the latest roadblock in the fight for police reform and justice. It is an insult to the mothers, fathers, children and loved ones of all those killed at the hands of law enforcement. The consent decrees and small incremental changes that were achieved after tireless advocacy, organising, protests and political courage have been dismantled by a department that should be protecting the civil rights of individuals, not eliminating them.
This move isn't just a policy reversal. It's a moral retreat that sends a chilling message that accountability is optional when it comes to Black and Brown victims. Trump is shamelessly weaponising the justice department against marginalised communities. The decision to dismiss these lawsuits with prejudice solidifies a dangerous political precedent that police departments are above scrutiny. The timing is no coincidence; it is an insult to Floyd's family and the loved ones of victims such as Sandra Bland, Tyre Nichols, Breonna Taylor, Eric Garner and countless others whose names we may never even know.
I remember delivering the eulogies for Floyd (one in Minneapolis and one in his native Houston) like it was yesterday. There was so much frustration, anger, disgust and exhaustion permeating throughout the US and, in turn, in many nations across the world. In fact, his death sparked global protests against racial injustice, particularly at the hands of law enforcement. Many young people mobilised and hit the streets for the first time, and more than 200,000 folks joined us in the nation's capital for a march on Washington in August 2020 to call attention to ongoing police injustice. Despite a pandemic, hundreds of thousands from all races, ages and socioeconomic backgrounds protested alongside my organisation, National Action Network (NAN), as we led this march through the streets of Washington.
Much has changed. In the wake of Floyd's killing, and amid calls to respect Black lives, many corporations made commitments to continue diversifying and investing in our communities. Now we are watching many of those same companies turn their backs on their own diversity, equity and inclusion policies, capitulating to a rightwing government. The 2021 conviction of Derek Chauvin, the officer who killed Floyd, represented one of the first major cases in which someone in law enforcement was held accountable for their actions. But now some conservative groups and individuals are pushing for Chauvin to receive a pardon from the president. Such action would be the height of throwing salt into an already achingly deep wound. It should not be entertained for a moment.
Some (particularly those in power at the moment) would like to distort reality and act as though police brutality and misconduct aren't current problems. Nothing could be further from the truth. According to Mapping Police Violence, police in the US have killed 456 people so far this year (as of 23 May). In fact, there has only been a single day when police haven't killed a person in 2025. And as it highlights, Black people are 2.8 times more likely to be killed by law enforcement than their white counterparts. This is why we still march, this is why we still put pressure on elected officials and corporations.
For several months, NAN and I have been leading 'buy-cotts' to support businesses such as Costco who remain firm in their DEI commitments. I have had meetings with PepsiCo's chair and the CEO of PepsiCo North America, as well as Target's CEO. Recently, I joined fellow leaders of national civil rights organisations for a meeting with top Google executives. And on 28 August, NAN will lead a march on Wall Street to defend DEI, remind corporations of their own promises in the wake of Floyd's death, and reiterate that we will only spend our dollars where we are respected.
When I stood in front of mourners five years ago at Floyd's funeral, I said that his story has been the story of Black people, because the reason we could never be who we wanted and dreamed of being is because society kept its knee on our neck. Well, just as we loudly proclaimed around the world then, we say it again, remembering George Floyd, remembering all the victims: get your knee off our necks. Do it now.
Rev Al Sharpton is an American Baptist minister, civil rights activist and radio talkshow host
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
18 minutes ago
- The Guardian
The Guardian view on Trump bombing Iran: an illegal and reckless act
Donald Trump was predictably quick to claim victory following the illegal US strike on Iran's nuclear facilities: 'Completely and totally obliterated,' he crowed. Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel and sycophants at home rushed to fawn over his 'courageous' and 'brilliant' decision. The most senior US military official, Dan Caine, offered a more muted assessment: it was 'way too early' to know the full outcome despite severe damage. We cannot yet know whether the blow has ended Iran's nuclear aspirations – or will spur it to pursue the bomb. It may be weeks or months, too, before Iranian retaliation plays out, with all its potential repercussions. Two nuclear-armed states have gone to war on the unevidenced claim that a third state is on the verge of acquiring its own nuclear arms. In March, the US director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, said Iran was not building weapons (though she has now scrambled to align with Mr Trump). Israel is clear that its attacks will continue, and has increasingly talked of regime change. The price is being paid not only by a reviled regime but by the Iranian people. Senior administration figures insisted that the US is solely focused on the nuclear programme. As a candidate, Mr Trump vowed to 'stop the chaos in the Middle East' and 'prevent world war three'. Yet the risk of regional conflagration is growing, and now he warns of 'either peace or … tragedy for Iran' if it does not end uranium enrichment. Mr Netanyahu lured him into this attack and may lead him into more, paying gushing tribute to a history-making president and thanking him on behalf of 'the forces of civilisation'. Mr Trump described them as working together 'like perhaps no team has ever worked before'. Iran has been notably cautious since Israel's attack began. The pillars of its security – its regional networks, missiles and nuclear programme – have all suffered punishing blows. To do nothing invites further attack; to hit back – particularly by targeting US personnel in the region – courts disaster. Close the strait of Hormuz and oil prices would soar. But that would hit Iran's own exports and risk involving Gulf states. Russia and China condemned the US strike but are hardly rushing to offer Tehran assistance. Israel's strike – and the US's – on Iran cannot be justified under international law's self-defence doctrine. The UN secretary general, António Guterres, rightly warns of catastrophe in the Middle East, urging diplomacy as the only solution. Yet Mr Trump walked away from the Obama-overseen deal that slowed Iran's programme, and now has struck Iran when it sought negotiation despite Israel's attacks. Sir Keir Starmer, too, called for de-escalation and negotiation, though he backed the US strike. The US did not request British assistance – but the fear remains that European powers may be drawn into another criminal and disastrous war in the Middle East. In rejecting diplomacy and choosing war, not only in breach of international law but at the behest of a country pursuing annihilation in Gaza, the US has delivered a resounding blow to the architecture of global affairs. It has signalled that countries that negotiate (Iran) face stark consequences, which those which rush to own the bomb (North Korea) can avoid. Its embrace of pre-emptive strikes is handy for Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and any leader who might want to carry out their own. Even if the immediate crisis in the Middle East can be contained, the cost of this reckless act may not be fully felt or comprehended for decades.
BBC News
19 minutes ago
- BBC News
Diplomatic tightrope on Iran just got more precarious for Starmer
Sir Keir Starmer has been treading a delicate diplomatic tightrope all week on the issue of night's airstrikes by the US mean the challenges facing the prime minister could now continue for Keir's repeated calls for de-escalation have clearly not been heeded by the White he has avoided direct UK involvement in military action and has sought to maintain what British diplomats claim is a solid and valuable relationship with US president Donald Trump. The response from ministers appears to be it was not the means they wanted, but they supported the UK has not explicitly endorsed the method, but the result - a delay in Iran getting nuclear weapons - is, they argue, in the UK's national Keir's position has shifted since Tuesday, when he seemed confident Trump would not intervene, after sitting next to him at a G7 dinner in Canada."I was sitting right next to President Trump, so I've no doubt, in my mind, the level of agreement there was," he four days later the president intervened. Did the prime minister misread Trump? Or did the president - whose unpredictability is central to his foreign policy approach - just change his mind? No 10 has told us it was given advanced warning of the US action, but the UK was not asked to take part. We do not know had been speculation that US B-2 stealth bombers could have used the UK's Diego Garcia airbase in the Indian Ocean as a waypoint en route to "Operation Midnight Hammer" involved B-2s flying non-stop for 18 hours to reach their targets, according to the latest on US strikes on IranIran's secretive nuclear site that only a US bomb could hitWhat we know about US strikes on IranIt is possible the UK was not asked for assistance because it would have been a difficult request to have been debates at the top of government in recent days about the legality of any UK involvement, with the attorney general, Lord Hermer, providing advice on a range of the next steps in the conflict unclear, the US could end up requesting military support from the UK in the coming weeks - prompting further difficult decisions for the prime minister. So, what next? US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has responded to concerns the US attacks could prompt the start of a long conflict by insisting: "This is most certainly not open-ended".Yet the actions of both the The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) suggest they fear retaliation from is why British diplomats have been planning a flight early next week to help "vulnerable British nationals and their dependents wanting to leave Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories".Defence sources have told me measures to protect British armed forces in the Middle East have been strengthened in the past few hours, with additional fighter jets already in the region and at "high readiness".One UK diplomat told me UK-US relations remain strong, as demonstrated by Foreign Secretary David Lammy's long meeting with secretary of state Marco Rubio and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff on we do not know if - or how - Iran might respond, or whether the UK or its military could be targeted. Starmer's high-wire act has just become even more dangerous.
Daily Mail
19 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Wyoming man arrested for causing thousand-person stampede at high school debate tournament
A Wyoming man sparked chaos at a national high school debate tournament after storming the stage and triggering a thousand-person stampede that left officials scrambling and terrified attendees fleeing in all directions. Jayden Roccaforte, 22, a four-time national champion in speech and debate, was arrested on Thursday, June 19 at the 2025 National Speech and Debate Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa. A viral video shows Roccaforte swaying on stage with a backpack, making unsettling gestures and launching into a bizarre 'knock knock' joke that quickly spiraled into panic. 'You wanna hear a joke?' he asked the crowd, before shouting 'Knock knock!' and crouching over his bag as if to pull something out - prompting someone to ask, 'Run away?' Moments later, thousands began to flee the venue. According to Des Moines police, Roccaforte now faces a charge of disorderly conduct and two counts of drug possession. On Friday, June 20, district spokesperson Mary Quast told Cowboy State Daily that Roccaforte was neither an employee nor a volunteer and had no affiliation with the school's speech and debate program. But conflicting accounts and screenshots tell a different story. Screenshots reviewed by Cowboy State Daily show that Roccaforte was added to a group chat with East High students and coaches on June 11, and remained in the chat until being removed after Thursday's incident. An August 2024 blog post by One Clap Speech and Debate had previously described Roccaforte as someone who coached East High students after graduating. Now a student at West Kentucky University, Roccaforte reportedly traveled to the tournament independently - but he was seen wearing an orange 'attendee' ribbon, which according to tournament rules, means a school approved his presence on-site. Both a parent and a student told Cowboy State Daily that Roccaforte was with the East High team throughout the day on Thursday - traveling in a school district vehicle and even joining students and coaches for meals. 'He was kind of just hanging out with people,' one student said. 'There wasn't really anyone to coach at that point; we were just going there to (perform).' Later that night, at 9:45 p.m., East High head coach Marcus Viney sent an email to tournament attendees confirming that Roccaforte was a former student of the program but had traveled to the event 'independently… with the intent to celebrate an important team award.' On Friday afternoon, assistant coach Ashley Schulz sent a group message to students warning them not to speak with reporters: 'If anyone gets contacted by the news, we are not allowed to speak with them at all. The district will comment. NOT us.'
