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.

[gere7404, BSN, RN]

1 hour ago, Curious1997 said:

What's weird is that based on your posts you don't seem objective and you are in emergency services? 

I hope your feelings don't influence your services? 

How is pointing out false reports and double standards not being object 

 

You immediately assume I'm a right-wing conspiracy theorist because what I say contradicts what you subjectively believe (incorrectly, might I add) and then criticize me for not being objective? 

Something tells me the irony escapes you. 

How about some non-Fox news sources to placate you? 

"Speculation over Officer Sicknick's death was the source of widespread disinformation after the New York Times reported erroneously that protesters had bludgeoned him with a fire extinguisher - a claim the newspaper later retracted."

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56810371#:~:text=A US police officer who,for Washington DC has ruled.&text=Officer Sicknick%2C 42%2C was defending,stormed it on 6 January.

CNN?

https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/19/politics/brian-sicknick-death-us-capitol-riot/index.html

[guest1163268]

20 minutes ago, gere7404 said:

How is pointing out false reports and double standards not being object 

 

You immediately assume I'm a right-wing conspiracy theorist because what I say contradicts what you subjectively believe (incorrectly, might I add) and then criticize me for not being objective? 

Something tells me the irony escapes you. 

How about some non-Fox news sources to placate you? 

"Speculation over Officer Sicknick's death was the source of widespread disinformation after the New York Times reported erroneously that protesters had bludgeoned him with a fire extinguisher - a claim the newspaper later retracted."

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56810371#:~:text=A US police officer who,for Washington DC has ruled.&text=Officer Sicknick%2C 42%2C was defending,stormed it on 6 January.

CNN?

https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/19/politics/brian-sicknick-death-us-capitol-riot/index.html

Mate, you are arguing about the insurrection! Understand context? 

You can't spin this. Insurrection! Badddd! Dangerous people! Unhinged! 

[gere7404, BSN, RN]

8 minutes ago, Curious1997 said:

Mate, you are arguing about the insurrection! Understand context? 

You can't spin this. Insurrection! Badddd! Dangerous people! Unhinged! 

"actually, the only person killed that day was a white woman shot by a black police officer " was what I said, in response to an incorrect post that a police officer was murdered. 

My post was an objective fact; I was pointing out an inaccuracy in another poster's post, and again, and later the irony of people celebrate that killing by a police officer despite the fact that the party was unarmed and the race roles were reversed. 

Black cop kills unarmed white person? A-OK, that woman was BADDDD! 

White cop kills any black person? Even when they're doing something like shooting at the cop? Obvious racism!

 

[klone, MSN, RN]

Two things:

https://www.startribune.com/feds-plan-to-indict-chauvin-other-three-ex-officers-on-civil-rights-charges/600051374/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=amnews

Yay! 

Also, Google "Say their names memorial" - it's next to George Floyd Memorial. It's powerful.

[Psychnursehopeful, ASN, RN]

20 hours ago, toomuchbaloney said:

Nah.

Police should be held accountable for their own training, and standards for education and practice, or lack of standards...just like other professionals. 

 

Nursing standards have been changed. Diploma programs are gone. CRNA now require PHD/DNP. If the goal is better outcomes than better training is needed. 

[guest1163268]

4 hours ago, gere7404 said:

"actually, the only person killed that day was a white woman shot by a black police officer " was what I said, in response to an incorrect post that a police officer was murdered. 

My post was an objective fact; I was pointing out an inaccuracy in another poster's post, and again, and later the irony of people celebrate that killing by a police officer despite the fact that the party was unarmed and the race roles were reversed. 

Black cop kills unarmed white person? A-OK, that woman was BADDDD! 

White cop kills any black person? Even when they're doing something like shooting at the cop? Obvious racism!

 

No one in their right mind would possibly blame a police officer if everything was legal and above board. We don't hate policemen because we all understand what an important job they have re our daily safety. We just don't want police to kill people unless it's absolutely necessary! White or black! 

I saw that video of the young girl with the knife and the reaction time and believe me it was an eye opener. I can tell you that for no amount of money would I ever want to be a cop. That was brutal and sooo scary! I worked as a bouncer before and I met a few scary people but I never placed it into the context that some of those guys could have been outside, waiting with a knife and they could have been equally as quick as the girl and SHE wasn't even evil! It definitely opened my mind. So I would never critique a cop if they were doing their duty appropriately. 

But you have to admit that there's been some videos of some bad situations re cops lately. 

[toomuchbaloney]

Not taking the bait. 

Trying to pretend that there isn't a problem with police violence is like trying to argue that there isn't a problem with racism in this country.

[toomuchbaloney]

7 hours ago, gere7404 said:

Race immaterial, you can find unjustified shoots by police officers regarding innocent people of all races; Philando Castille for all accounts was completely compliant, trying to obey an officers conflicting commands and died because of poor discipline; Tamir Rice unfortunately was pointing a very real replica gun at people and was killed for it (guess what, if you look for it, you can find kids of all races who've been shot doin, and Breonna Taylor was a victim of the drug war and government over-reach -- it was stupid she was under investigation, and it's stupid the police have the kind of power to where they can conduct a no-knock raid for something like suspicion of drug possession.

I don't like the idea of the capitol being beseiged by any forces, regardless of political affiliation. It makes me just as mad to see that as seeing "peaceful protests" in which people feel justified in, I don't know, burning down police stations, declaring themselves autonomous countries, or attempting to light federal courthouses with people in them on fire nightly for more than a month. 

You don't seem outraged regarding the killing of an unarmed woman, because "she was committing a significant crime." Tell me, how do you feel about say, Ma'Khia Bryant?

How is pointing out false reports and double standards not being objective? 

I am not outraged because I don't know the Bryant case details at all.  The fact that some deaths will be justified doesn't mean that there isn't a problem with police violence in this country.  

 

[LibraNurse27, BSN, RN]

6 hours ago, toomuchbaloney said:

I am not outraged because I don't know the Bryant case details at all.  The fact that some deaths will be justified doesn't mean that there isn't a problem with police violence in this country.  

 

Yes, from the video that looked like a tough situation, because another person's danger was imminently in danger by the girl who was shot. It is sad when you find out the girl's difficult back story, that she was in that state and that she died at such a young age. There is speculation about whether the cop could have shot her in a non fatal area of the body, but I don't feel qualified to comment. I can't imagine being in that situation and having to chose what to do so quickly. 

Regardless of my extreme disgust for racism within policing, I do NOT hate all cops or blame them exclusively for racism. At the county hospital I met wonderful cops and correctional officers, even some who started a mental health task force to help law enforcement learn how to handle mental health emergencies without violence. I loved talking to them. It's a hard job and some cops do it for the right reasons and do it well. In some cases I think it is unclear whether their actions were justified, but in others, such as Brianna Taylor's death, it is glaringly obvious that racism and bad policing strategies led to an innocent person's death. I don't like being accused of stating that any time a white officer kills a black person it was due to racism, as I didn't say that. Also, the statistics presented in the article about how police brutality is overhyped, they are incorrect. If you check actual police databases and credible sources, such as Yale law review (quoted below), you will see that is false.

Among unarmed victims, Black people were killed at three times the rate (218 total killed), and Hispanics at 1.45 times the rate of white people (146 total killed).

 

P.S. I have many other credible sources, some from police forces self reporting and federal data bases. I have done extensive research on this subject. If you would like all the sources I'm happy to post a "bibliography" of sorts. I want to be taken seriously. thx

[morte, LPN, LVN]

On 4/28/2021 at 1:26 PM, Workitinurfava said:

So if 80 percent of blk  people are committing the crimes and the cops are searching 78 percent of the blk  people, maybe there is a correlation.  Maybe the cops are being proactive in this crime-ridden area.

 

Two different races of people. We are talking about blk people, please stay on topic

 

Wrong, he was a person of color, I would be surprised if he had no African ancestry at all.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

On 4/29/2021 at 4:41 AM, gere7404 said:

Race immaterial, you can find unjustified shoots by police officers regarding innocent people of all races; Philando Castille for all accounts was completely compliant, trying to obey an officers conflicting commands and died because of poor discipline; Tamir Rice unfortunately was pointing a very real replica gun at people and was killed for it (guess what, if you look for it, you can find kids of all races who've been shot doin, and Breonna Taylor was a victim of the drug war and government over-reach -- it was stupid she was under investigation, and it's stupid the police have the kind of power to where they can conduct a no-knock raid for something like suspicion of drug possession.

I don't like the idea of the capitol being beseiged by any forces, regardless of political affiliation. It makes me just as mad to see that as seeing "peaceful protests" in which people feel justified in, I don't know, burning down police stations, declaring themselves autonomous countries, or attempting to light federal courthouses with people in them on fire nightly for more than a month. 

You don't seem outraged regarding the killing of an unarmed woman, because "she was committing a significant crime." Tell me, how do you feel about say, Ma'Khia Bryant?

How is pointing out false reports and double standards not being objective? 

Tamir was murdered, plain and simple.  The cops showed up and murdered him. The alleged weapon was never pointed at them, because it was still in Tamir's pants when he laid on the ground and bled out.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

On 4/28/2021 at 2:23 PM, Workitinurfava said:

You obviously don't see the correlation like you should be able to  so I can't help you. 

Correlation is oft moot