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.

[toomuchbaloney]

On 6/5/2020 at 2:37 PM, Wildflower8 said:

Has everyone forgotten who maintains order in this country? How many police officers have been killed by violent criminals— where is the outrage for their lives? Don’t all lives matter? Bashing the police and rioting solves nothing. It’s only causing more lives to be lost and businesses to be destroyed. I don’t support anything that has to do with burning down buildings, blocking people from driving to work, throwing bricks at horses and bashing our police force. The police officers involved have been arrested and will have their trial— continuing this chaos and hurting others accomplishes nothing productive.

Unnecessary and brutal violence and killings of restrained or detained Americans is not evidence of "maintaining order". Brutal and violent treatment of peaceful protesters is not "maintaining order". Escalating violence is not "maintaining order".

Are we supposed to just ignore the many examples of terrible police judgement and tactics? Are we supposed to ignore the dishonesty?

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

This is the most comprehensive video I have seen. Thank you.

Just a small point - It's not Kuenig, it's Kueng (more like King, I think).

I am sure we will all know how to say and spell it for the rest of our lives, sadly.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

On 6/2/2020 at 4:23 PM, Joe V said:

WOW!! All this for a pack of cigarettes?

George Floyd allegedly tried to pass a counterfeit $20 bill. Did he create it? Was it passed to him by another? We will never know.

Death should not have been the result, Joe, of stealing a pack of smokes, if Floyd even knew the bill he used was counterfeit. I did hear that a woman had tried to use the bill at that store, unsuccessfully, shortly before handing it to Floyd so he could try. I don't know if that is true.

However, a small crime like passing a phony $20 bill is still a crime. So are jaywalking and spitting on the sidewalk. Where do we draw the line?

I'm sure you realize that all the rioting and looting are not about George being murdered, on camera, for all the world to see. These actions are about thugs who have no respect for themselves or anyone else. These are about excitement and getting TV's etc. for free.

The peaceful protesting is about police brutality, especially against black men. There is more than enough of brutality to go around and it does need to stop. I once heard a cop say he was not a social worker. No, police are not social workers. They do, though, need to learn how to calm situations down, how to talk situations down whenever possible - and it is not always possible - not create worldwide havoc or kill people in their custody.

There is plenty of mayhem in the world. There is plenty of hatred of those of other races by those of every race, not just whites against black folks.

All of that said, George had a lot of crime in his history and had even been to prison. Even so, of course, that did not mean Chauvin and friends should have killed him.

It is time for the violence to stop, time for cooler heads to prevail. Maybe looters and burners should be shot by police. Shopkeepers and those who insure them would probably agree.

I would understand, though, if police just didn't show up for work for a while. They are told to do one thing 1 day and something different the next. They need to be able to be safe and go home in 1 piece at the end of their shift. They need better training.

Peace

[eakirlin]

Believe that in many locales, police violence is a problem, and I have my own stories to tell on that subject, and the stories of many friends and neighbors. I think many nurses look to law enforcement for help, and in some cases, that trust has been abused.

And yes, examine your own prejudices. Would recommend getting involved with your local government, to see if their is a rule governing lethal force, and even nonlethal force.

Would also wish that many Americans understood more about health insurance, so that they can make a good choice come the next election.

[toomuchbaloney]

30 minutes ago, Kooky Korky said:

Death should not have been the result, Joe, of stealing a pack of smokes, if Floyd even knew the bill he used was counterfeit. I did hear that a woman had tried to use the bill at that store, unsuccessfully, shortly before handing it to Floyd so he could try. I don't know if that is true.

However, a small crime like passing a phony $20 bill is still a crime. So are jaywalking and spitting on the sidewalk. Where do we draw the line?

I'm sure you realize that all the rioting and looting are not about George being murdered, on camera, for all the world to see. These actions are about thugs who have no respect for themselves or anyone else. These are about excitement and getting TV's etc. for free.

The peaceful protesting is about police brutality, especially against black men. There is more than enough of brutality to go around and it does need to stop. I once heard a cop say he was not a social worker. No, police are not social workers. They do, though, need to learn how to calm situations down, how to talk situations down whenever possible - and it is not always possible - not create worldwide havoc or kill people in their custody.

There is plenty of mayhem in the world. There is plenty of hatred of those of other races by those of every race, not just whites against black folks.

All of that said, George had a lot of crime in his history and had even been to prison. Even so, of course, that did not mean Chauvin and friends should have killed him.

It is time for the violence to stop, time for cooler heads to prevail. Maybe looters and burners should be shot by police. Shopkeepers and those who insure them would probably agree.

I would understand, though, if police just didn't show up for work for a while. They are told to do one thing 1 day and something different the next. They need to be able to be safe and go home in 1 piece at the end of their shift. They need better training.

Peace

Shooting in response to looting is definitely over policing and has its roots in racism.

Much of the looting, violence and vandalism is DESIGNED and INTENDED to cast the protesters in a negative light and justify use of disproportionate force against them. This is an old tactic of the white supremacists. Have you read their violent manifestos when they have acted out over the past decade?

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

2 minutes ago, toomuchbaloney said:

Shooting in response to looting is definitely over policing and has its roots in racism.

Much of the looting, violence and vandalism is DESIGNED and INTENDED to cast the protesters in a negative light and justify use of disproportionate force against them. This is an old tactic of the white supremacists. Have you read their violent manifestos when they have acted out over the past decade?

I disagree that shooting, especially after a week of violence, is excessive or that it is rooted in racism. It is rooted in a desire to stop the violence and vandalism.

What should be done about the looting, burning of businesses and police stations and police vehicles?

You would not appreciate or be so kindly disposed to the violence if you were a shopkeeper or the insurer who will have to pay for violence or someone who I heard on TV today who was all upset that all of the stores she needs to patronize are now down.

I have not read manifestos but would appreciate knowing where they are or what to look up if you have that info.

[Joe V]

At no point, should we be FEARING THE POLICE. No point.

They are there because WE PAY THEIR SALARY.

THEY KNOW THE RISKS when they decided, "To Serve And Protect". If they don't like the risks vs rewards they can quit.

If PEOPLE CAN'T TRUST THE POLICE who can they go to? Why bother with a police force?

There are good and bad apples in every basket. We need a better system where ALL ARE TREATED EQUALLY.

To begin healing, there needs to be REFORM.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

1 minute ago, Joe V said:

At no point, should we be FEARING THE POLICE. No point.

They are there because WE PAY THEIR SALARY.

THEY KNOW THE RISKS when they took this job. If they don't like the risks vs rewards they can quit.

If PEOPLE CAN'T TRUST THE POLICE who can they go to? Why bother with a police force?

There are good and bad apples in every basket. We need a better system where ALL ARE TREATED EQUALLY.

To begin healing, there needs to be REFORM.

Nurses know the risks when they take a job in, for example, the ER or sign up for work that requires lifting and tugging on heavy people, often with little help.

I agree that there are good and bad apples and that there needs to be reform.

You do know, of course, that police sometimes face situations where only force will work. And force isn't pretty.

People need to know that the first priority, second priority, and 100th priority of a policeman is to go home in one piece, walking. If they can help people or stop/prevent crime, clean up a car wreck, or otherwise do good, that's wonderful. However, first and foremost if officer safety. Anything wrong with that?

Perhaps fear isn't the right word. Perhaps respect and obey authority is right. A lot of people don't.

[toomuchbaloney]

On 6/7/2020 at 5:57 PM, Kooky Korky said:

I disagree that shooting, especially after a week of violence, is excessive or that it is rooted in racism. It is rooted in a desire to stop the violence and vandalism.

What should be done about the looting, burning of businesses and police stations and police vehicles?

You would not appreciate or be so kindly disposed to the violence if you were a shopkeeper or the insurer who will have to pay for violence or someone who I heard on TV today who was all upset that all of the stores she needs to patronize are now down.

I have not read manifestos but would appreciate knowing where they are or what to look up if you have that info.

Shooting people for property damage or to protect goods is most definitely what the very first "police" were hired to accomplish. They patrolled roads to monitor and limit the movement of blacks and to protect the property of the land owners from the poor "criminals". They often exacted punishment for imagined crimes. Did you miss the recent discussion about this after Trump chose to tweet that racist sentiment?

Seriously, white supremacists have desired to tear this country apart since they first tried to secede over racism...this is not new.

https://www.lawfareblog.com/riots-white-supremacy-and-accelerationism

[toomuchbaloney]

4 minutes ago, Kooky Korky said:

Nurses know the risks when they take a job in, for example, the ER or sign up for work that requires lifting and tugging on heavy people, often with little help.

I agree that there are good and bad apples and that there needs to be reform.

You do know, of course, that police sometimes face situations where only force will work. And force isn't pretty.

People need to know that the first priority, second priority, and 100th priority of a policeman is to go home in one piece, walking. If they can help people or stop/prevent crime, clean up a car wreck, or otherwise do good, that's wonderful. However, first and foremost if officer safety. Anything wrong with that?

Perhaps fear isn't the right word. Perhaps respect and obey authority is right. A lot of people don't.

If police want widespread respect they should widely behave and speak in a way which encourages or precipitates it. Act like violent or racist pigs and people will consider you a violent or racist pig.

[eakirlin]

There is a culture in some police stations and in some locales, and it amazes me that the police are roll-modeling assaultive behavior for the camera... like the young women thrown on the curb, later hospitalized.... or the 75 year old man pushed back until he fell on the concrete and started bleeding from the head.

I once worked with a police man, who decided to become a nurse. One day, all 4 of my tires exploded while on a 20 foot overpass in our downtown area, and each tire had a nail pushed through it. I almost died, because my car was set to careen over the side of the overpass. I was later told that this policeman-nurse liked to carry around a box of nails, and push them into the tires of someone with whom they had disagreed. Same day, my charge nurse's car lost all 4 tires. and another coworker had police show up at her door to arrest her for an as yet unpaid parking ticket... all of us had had an incident with this nurse. It betrays a level of permission that many police think they have.

While that is needlessly mean spirited, it is far from some really serious allegations of police brutality. Would agree that it needs to stop, and it may mean to imbed peaceful population in with the police. Also, did I say they need to turn on their body cams?

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

On 6/7/2020 at 6:09 PM, toomuchbaloney said:

Shooting people for property damage or to protect goods is most definitely what the very first "police" were hired to accomplish. They patrolled roads to monitor and limit the movement of blacks and to protect the property of the land owners from the poor "criminals". They often exacted punishment for imagined crimes. Did you miss the recent discussion about this after Trump chose to tweet that racist sentiment?

Seriously, white supremacists have desired to tear this country apart since they first tried to secede over racism...this is not new.

https://www.lawfareblog.com/riots-white-supremacy-and-accelerationism

Interesting.

It is not possible for me to believe that there was no policing until what sounds like the post-Civil War era, if I am understanding you correctly.

Why do white supremacists desire to tear apart America? I do not understand this. What is your definition of "tear apart"?

Thanks for the site. I will check it out.

Do you see only whites looting? I see a great many people, most of whom appear to be black.