MNA and Nurses Respond to the Killing of George Floyd by Police

[tnbutterfly - Mary]

We have all seen on the news the terrible scene that played out in the streets in Minnesota when George Floyd, an unarmed 46-year-old black male, was arrested by the Minnesota Police for attempted forgery at a convenience store. The action was caught on video as George Floyd, handcuffed and pinned to the ground face down by an officer who pressed with his full weight with his knee on Mr. Floyd's neck for more than 8 minutes. We watched and heard George Floyd crying out that he couldn't breathe. We heard him calling for "Mama". We watched as his body went limp with the officer still holding him down. This will be a scene I shall never forget.

The following are quotes from the Minnesota Nurses Association's response to this heinous crime.

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As nurses, we see the horrific effects of racism in our hospitals and community every day. We cannot remain silent as yet another black man has died at the hands of police...

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George Floyd's last words were "I can't breathe.” George Floyd died shortly after arriving at the hospital."

Nurses jump into action when they hear someone say "I can't breathe", instead of standing there watching them die. Their goal is to save lives, not kill people

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In the case of George Floyd, Minneapolis Police took no care or life-saving measures. Instead, they left him pinned down to the ground until paramedics arrived. Police ignored the pleas of George Floyd and he died.

Nurses care for all patients, regardless of their gender, race, religion or other status. We expect the same from the police. Unfortunately, nurses continue to see the devastating effects of systematic racism and oppression targeting people of color in our communities. We demand justice for George Floyd and a stop to the unnecessary death of black men at the hands of those who should protect them.

As a nurse, or as a compassionate human, how has this horrific event affected you? We have seen protests (some peaceful and some that have erupted into riots), vandalism, looting, and more. What is going on in your community? What actions can nurses take?

Let us stand together and let our voices be heard. Post your comments below.

[Tenebrae, BSN, RN]

10 hours ago, gere7404 said:

Dude overdosed and had a heart attack. The medical examiners showed there was no trauma to the neck or airway. You know who killed George Floyd? Combination of his own decisions to take drugs and fight, and the crowd on scene blocking efforts from ems to get there and requiring the police to maintain tighter scene control. We were shown one snippet of the ordeal disingenuously for a year which led to mass polarization, dozens more lives lost, and billions of dollars in damages. 

 

 

Do you have a link to the medical report?

11 hours ago, Workitinurfava said:

Floyd beat a pregnant woman. He was no saint. Eventually he probably would have killed someone. Change first needs to start with the criminals in the community. 

 

There is no criminal code within western countries that dictate a death sentence for assault

[Tenebrae, BSN, RN]

8 hours ago, Daisy4RN said:

Everyone is entitled to a fair trial, Mr Chauvin will never get one because of all the media  rhetoric

former officer Chauvin knelt on a mans neck for over nine minutes. No rhetoric needed that fact is appalling

[klone, MSN, RN]

#ACAB

I live in South Minneapolis. We are all breathing a sigh of relief today. The sad part of this is that while Chauvin was found guilty, the rest of the MPD distanced themselves from him. He was "one bad cop" and his conviction means that they don't have to address the systemic racism inherent in the police force.

[Workitinurfava, BSN, RN]

People are protesting for Makhia Bryant. The cop kept the girl she was going to stab from getting killed. The group of girls including her started fighting after the cop who killed her showed up. The cop saved a life. I am not sure what the issue is.  The Chauvin situation is different. He could have done more, your right, to help Floyd after he died.

 

[macawake, MSN]

3 hours ago, Workitinurfava said:

People are protesting for Makhia Bryant. The cop kept the girl she was going to stab from getting killed. The group of girls including her started fighting after the cop who killed her showed up. The cop saved a life. I am not sure what the issue is.  The Chauvin situation is different. He could have done more, your right, to help Floyd after he died.

 

Not only should Chauvin have done more once his victim stopped breathing and became limp. It should in my opinion never have happened in the first place. You don’t apply pressure/body weight to a person’s neck while they’re pinned to the ground. You just don’t. Those nine minutes are in my opinion some of the most unprofessional and callous policing I’ve ever seen. I think his verdict is absolutely fair. 

I looked at footage from the other incident you mentioned. It’s hard to say anything definitively when you haven’t witnessed it firsthand, but the following is my impression. From what I could tell that shooting was justifiable. I think the police officer saved a girl’s or woman’s life. (I’m not sure how old the female dressed in pink is). I’m impressed by the officer’s speed and accuracy in a completely chaotic situation.

Just a few feet off to his right a grown male viciously kicks a female who is on the ground, hard in the head or neck area(?). Despite this that must have drawn his attention he has enough situational awareness to see that another female is charging, lunging towards a third female, wielding a big knife with her arm up, drawn back and ready to plunge it into a third female who is pinned with her back against a car.

The female with the knife was right up against the female who was pinned against the car, trying to twist her body away from her attacker. The officer had mere seconds to react/act and all this appeared to have happened right after the police arrived on scene. It’s definitely a tragic situation when a young person dies, but someone else was likely half a second away from serious injury or death. Sad situation, but nothing at all like what happened to George Floyd. 

As I said, these were just my impressions from watching the police footage from the scene. I’m sure that it will be thoroughly investigated. One last thing. If someone else looks at the footage it actually looked to me as the adult male who had kicked a person, passed the knife to the young female attacker. Everything happened so fast, that it was hard to tell. But if that is actually what I saw, that adds an extra dimension of tragedy and dysfunction. 

[guest1163268]

4 hours ago, klone said:

#ACAB

I live in South Minneapolis. We are all breathing a sigh of relief today. The sad part of this is that while Chauvin was found guilty, the rest of the MPD distanced themselves from him. He was "one bad cop" and his conviction means that they don't have to address the systemic racism inherent in the police force.

It always staggers me the level of ignorance of my countrymen. 

I admit I have an advantage being that my mom is a history professor. 

Do my fellow white people realize that unless you were upper class English, everyone else was considered trash! Meaning that you could and was frequently enslaved! That included the Irish, Scottish, poor English and those from the continent that were catholics. And heaven help the Jewish people. 

Do you folks realize that around mid 16th century that indentured whites were fighting alongside slaves in Virginia against the English? Because they were considered slaves! Irish and Scottish included. So don't conveniently forget that very likely your ancestors were slaves of a sort unless you were a wealthy Englishman. 

The identity of whiteness didn't really exist until mid 16th century when indentured white slaves were replaced by the hardier Africans. It helped create the necessary differences to encourage the enslavement of another. Prior to that, people identified through religion or as a national of a country. Racism is a result of financial institutions not ethnicity! Also most Italians were probably a result of Roman slavery since they were the biggest proponents. 

This is the kind of information that people need to know, especially policemen because I know quite a few and I know people say that there are only a few bad eggs but in my experience racism and bullying are pervasive within their ranks. Any courageous person who takes the time to unpack the personality required to be a police officer, would eventually realize that context or deep thoughts are not their strong suits. Not trying to offend either. But have a broad international or interlectual conversation. Why else would you choose a job that puts you in conflict with American criminals who carry serious firepower and little brain power to manage their decisions? I imagine that their clannish behaviors are self preservation measures and deservedly so. 

[Workitinurfava, BSN, RN]

13 minutes ago, macawake said:

Not only should Chauvin have done more once his victim stopped breathing and became limp. It should in my opinion never have happened in the first place. You don’t apply pressure/body weight to a person’s neck while they’re pinned to the ground. You just don’t. Those nine minutes are in my opinion some of the most unprofessional and callous policing I’ve ever seen. I think his verdict is absolutely fair. 

I looked at footage from the other incident you mentioned. It’s hard to say anything definitively when you haven’t witnessed it firsthand, but the following is my impression. From what I could tell that shooting was justifiable. I think the police officer saved a girl’s or woman’s life. (I’m not sure how old the female dressed in pink is). I’m impressed by the officer’s speed and accuracy in a completely chaotic situation. Just a few feet off to his right a grown male viciously kicks a female who is on the ground, hard in the head or neck area(?). Despite this that must have drawn his attention he has enough situational awareness to see that another female is charging, lunging towards a third female, wielding a big knife with her arm up, drawn back and ready to plunge it into a third female who is pinned with her back against a car. The officer had mere seconds to react/act and all this appeared to have happened right after the police arrived on scene. It’s definitely a tragic situation when a young person dies, but someone else was likely half a second away from serious injury or death. Sad situation, but nothing at all like what happened to George Floyd. 

We will see what happens with this new case. I hope riots don't break out. Destroying communities in this way is unacceptable and counterproductive. 

[macawake, MSN]

23 minutes ago, Workitinurfava said:

We will see what happens with this new case. I hope riots don't break out. Destroying communities in this way is unacceptable and counterproductive. 

The rioters were the minority. Peaceful protesters the majority. What happened to George Floyd was certainly worth protesting. 

If the news shows the police cam footage of this new incident, I don’t see it generating the same response at all. From the admittedly limited part of the incident that I’ve been able to see, I suspect that the vast majority of people would agree that this was justifiable and likely the exact kind of help they would hope for if they ever find themselves in an imminently life-threatening situation with a knife inches from their neck and torso.

We might hear from a vocal minority who think differently, but since this situation isn’t at all similar to George Floyd’s, I don’t think the reaction will be the same. What happened to George Floyd upset the entire world. There were protests in most major European cities and several other countries as well.

[macawake, MSN]

35 minutes ago, Curious1997 said:

Any courageous person who takes the time to unpack the personality required to be a police officer, would eventually realize that context or deep thoughts are not their strong suits. Not trying to offend either. But have a broad international or interlectual conversation. Why else would you choose a job that puts you in conflict with American criminals who carry serious firepower and little brain power to manage their decisions? I imagine that their clannish behaviors are self preservation measures and deservedly so. 

Now, now.. I personally know several U.S. police officers who are quite intelligent/intellectual and who are genuinely motivated by a desire to ”protect & serve”. I’m positive that there are many more of them than those that I’ve met. But I do agree, there are major systemic problems that need to be addressed. 

[guest1163268]

6 minutes ago, macawake said:

Now, now.. I personally know several U.S. police officers who are quite intelligent/intellectual and who are genuinely motivated by a desire to ”protect & serve”. I’m positive that there are many more of them than those that I’ve met. But I do agree, there are major systemic problems that need to be addressed. 

I would bet that few of those are actually on the beat. They would quickly have moved of the streets to a much safer environment. 

I'm generalizing of course but the few I've known weren't deep thinkers and always appeared suspicious of everyone. Admittedly they were being deposed by my father at the time but it was just for contextual evidence. I've also known a few in the psych aspect and they have a really hard job, I couldn't do it, but they just seemed 'other' and sorry to say almost 'devious'. 

[guest1163268]

54 minutes ago, macawake said:

The rioters were the minority. Peaceful protesters the majority. What happened to George Floyd was certainly worth protesting. 

If the news shows the police cam footage of this new incident, I don’t see it generating the same response at all. From the admittedly limited part of the incident that I’ve been able to see, I suspect that the vast majority of people would agree that this was justifiable and likely the exact kind of help they would hope for if they ever find themselves in an imminently life-threatening situation with a knife inches from their neck and torso.

We might hear from a vocal minority who think differently, but since this situation isn’t at all similar to George Floyd’s, I don’t think the reaction will be the same. What happened to George Floyd upset the entire world. There were protests in most major European cities and several other countries as well.

I looked at the video as well and I can honestly say that I am glad I am not a police officer. I would rather work in the sewers. 

I might suggest that he could have used a taser but being completely ignorant about any of these weapons, I should be ignored completely. 

Jesus that happened quickly! How can that policeman live with the guilt. I've had fights working as a bouncer and caused some damage and then had to go home to mommy for comfort. 

Man how do those guys do that job, I don't know? They weren't even criminals? Imagine when it's a stone cold criminal? I left the bouncer job because there are some people who are just plain evil! They really want to hurt people! 

[Workitinurfava, BSN, RN]

1 hour ago, macawake said:

The rioters were the minority. Peaceful protesters the majority. What happened to George Floyd was certainly worth protesting. 

If the news shows the police cam footage of this new incident, I don’t see it generating the same response at all. From the admittedly limited part of the incident that I’ve been able to see, I suspect that the vast majority of people would agree that this was justifiable and likely the exact kind of help they would hope for if they ever find themselves in an imminently life-threatening situation with a knife inches from their neck and torso.

We might hear from a vocal minority who think differently, but since this situation isn’t at all similar to George Floyd’s, I don’t think the reaction will be the same. What happened to George Floyd upset the entire world. There were protests in most major European cities and several other countries as well.

There were a lot of violent protest all over the world. That's not OK. How will these violent protest help anything? Yes less aggressive force needs to be considered granted the situation but the community Floyd is from needs to work on decreasing crime.