Dear friends,
These are the last words of George Floyd, a 46-year-old man who died as a US police officer pinned him down, kneeling on his neck for seven minutes, until he suffocated: "It's my face man I didn't do nothing serious man please please please I can't breathe please man please somebody please man I can't breathe I can't breathe please (inaudible) man can't breathe, my face just get up I can't breathe please (inaudible) I can't breathe sh*t I will I can't move mama mama I can't my knee my nuts I'm through I'm through I'm claustrophobic my stomach hurt my neck hurts everything hurts some water or something please please I can't breathe officer don't kill me they gon' kill me man come on man I cannot breathe I cannot breathe they gon' kill me they gon kill me I can't breathe I can't breathe please sir please please please I can't breathe" Then his eyes shut and the pleas stop. George Floyd was pronounced dead shortly after. Right now, we have a choice. This can just be one more tragic death at the hands of US police -- or the moment for change. We are a movement of more than 60 million people -- when we all speak up, we are deafening. So let's raise our voices to join everyone calling for an end to these racist killings, and push those in power to do the same. Sign this open letter with one click, and when it's massive, Avaaz will publish it in major US newspapers and websites around the world. Let it be an anthem to end the killing and honour all those we've already lost.
With endless hope, Mike, Marie, Meetali, Sarah, Andrew, Ricken, Bert and the whole team at Avaaz. More information: Of Course There Are Protests. The State Is Failing Black People. (New York Times) https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/29/opinion/george-floyd-minneapolis.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage George Floyd killing: sister says officers should face murder charge as protests grow (The Guardian) https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/27/george-floyd-sister-police-officers-should-be-charged-with-murder |
