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.
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.
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?
What should be the response to looting?
Shop owners have a constitutional right to protect their possessions, their lives, and their livelihood.
As a black female I just LOVE the long disclaimer a white person gives me before they tell me their opinion or ask me something.
But you cannot answer? Do you think that this is why a poster might use blk? Out of discomfort? It is not a disclaimer it is a possible explanation because I am curious too. But whatever. Ooze your hostility and insults at me if it makes you feel better.
But whatever. Ooze your hostility and insults at me if it makes you feel better.
Had to go back to see how I irked you. My bad, your post had me thinking about some pt who gave me a long disclaimer. To be honest I didn't really read your post. Just skimmed. But it did make me remember something.
I just want to say that I so admire Oprah Winfrey. She's so articulate, I'm a huge fan of hers. And Prince Harry was so lucky to marry Meghan, don't you think? How do you like my BLM T-shirt?
I just want to say that I so admire Oprah Winfrey. She's so articulate, I'm a huge fan of hers. And Prince Harry was so lucky to marry Meghan, don't you think? How do you like my BLM T-shirt?
Would you terribly mind if I take this chair? ?
You are with your family at a restaurant. The whole clan. Your grandparents who know English, but only for family start to talk in their language. White guy who due in 3 months comes over to chat. Goes on about being in Korea war. Cool, but dude overstays his 1 minute welcome (am I being generous?).
Cool out spoken Uncle who oozes authority puts on the breaks with "thanks, were trying to enjoy time with family"
Hoovers over expecting white dude until he gets a clue.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
9 hours ago, Kooky Korky said:
What should be the response to looting?
Shop owners have a constitutional right to protect their possessions, their lives, and their livelihood.
Don't loot and you won't get shot.
Owners v police v white boys in the street with firearms.
No police should not be shooting looters. People have more value than property and they can't be replaced, each one is unique. We the People are the priority of the government, not privately owned property.
Yes I quoted myself. My computer froze and I didn't know my comment posted. Guess it did. I just wanted to give an example of a typical unnecessary disclaimers minorities have to hear.
Let's say a Latino (I'm black, but I'm sure Latinos get this too) places her coat on a chair at a Starbucks. She is alone and clearly doesn't need the extra chair at the table. A well-meaning (cough cough) white person goes over to her and says this:
"Excuse I don't mean to rude or racist. You know I love Mexicans. You are so beautiful. You know I know I took a classes in Spanish in high school. As a matter of fact I go over the border all the time to get those great deals. I'm not like those other people who discriminate against Mexicans. I am so glad that other guy is not in office. Blah blah blah. I am so sorry to be rambling on you just want to get some coffee. Do you mind if I take this chair please? Finally leaves with a "Gracias, Au Revoir"
I'm confident that every African-American, Asian, and even LGBT has experienced this when all they have to do is get to the point and ask.
Maybe it is because that person has been unjustly accused of being a racist so is over compensating.
2 hours ago, toomuchbaloney said:
Owners v police v white boys in the street with firearms.
No police should not be shooting looters. People have more value than property and they can't be replaced, each one is unique. We the People are the priority of the government, not privately owned property.
What is your address, I will be right over, maybe you have some stuff I want.
NO GROUP Should be lumped together with assumptions about them. Not police, not blacks, not whites. That is the whole problem with this thread. The anger instead of being directed at the ones who are guilty is being directed at all of varying categories of however you choose to divvy people up. It is sickening. Can't anyone ever look at things realistically?
Life is filled with 80/20 proportions. Eighty percent of any group is not causing problems. Not racist, not criminals, not abusive. None of us can answer for the twenty percent. And we cannot change it either. We can look at our own behavior and that is all we have power over.
I look at things quite realistically. I certainly don’t think all police officers are bad. I have dozens of police officers in my life. Several of them family members and many are close friends and people I used to work with prior to nursing. They’re good people.
Let’s assume that your 20% figure is accurate and that 20% of officers are racist or poorly suited for the job in some other way. That would be a significant part of the police force and suggests a serious problem. Contemplate for one moment the power a police officer has that other citizens don’t have. And ask yourself if you think it would be acceptable that one in five are as bad or worse than the criminals they are supposed to stop and protect you from.
Of course the 80% of good officers have to answer for the 20% bad ones. If they don’t, they’re no better than them.
What would you, a nurse, do if you watched another nurse draw up a one gallon sized syringe (yep, big!) with potassium chloride and make a beeline to the closest patient sleeping in their hospital bed? Stop him/her or simply shrug your shoulders since you can’t answer for them or change them, and simply allow them to carry out the deed?
19 hours ago, nursemarion said:
If a person is typing blk, a common abbreviation, could it be that subconsciously this is a way of expressing discomfort with the word black, which like me, may make that person feel like they are rude when they say it?
Am I understanding you correctly? Is your theory that workitnurfava’s reason for typing blk instead of black is a sign of racial sensitivity and not wishing to offend black posters? Don’t you think he’d offer up that explanation, instead of ignoring the question, since he’s been asked several times why he types white properly but won’t write black? English isn’t my first language so perhaps my reading comprehension isn’t up to snuff, but I never took his contracted spelling as a sign of respect. It’s kind of hard to given the content of his posts. He is of course welcome to explain his motivation.
Shop owners have a constitutional right to protect their possessions, their lives, and their livelihood.
Don't loot and you won't get shot.
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4 hours ago, toomuchbaloney said:
No police should not be shooting looters. People have more value than property and they can't be replaced, each one is unique.
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1 hour ago, Daisy4RN said:
What is your address, I will be right over, maybe you have some stuff I want.
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Protecting human life and as well as property is a responsibility of the police. However stealing or destroying property isn’t a capital offense. Police officers are not supposed to bypass the courts and mete out punishment on scene.
Shooting suspects and using lethal force should be the last resort in order to protect your own or someone else’s life, when all other means are insufficient to accomplish that.
Police officers should be able to place the vast majority of suspects under arrest without shooting them. That’s basic policing skills.
Someone who thinks that police officers or the general public should have carte blanche to shoot looters must think that taking a human life isn’t a big deal and something that’s all in a day’s work. I find that disturbing.
I posted a link in a previous post about statistics of officer shootings in various countries around the globe. I asked why you, anyone is free to answer, think that it’s up to 30 times more common in the U.S. than in most European countries? It’s not like we don’t have crime, criminals, drug use and mental health issues in our populations. We have lots of it. So does anyone have a theory?
I’ll start with one reason. Training. In many/most? European countries it takes between two and three years to train to become a patrol officer.
There is no national standard in the U.S. and in some states a person can become a police officers in just a couple of months. Why would you want to give people with such little training the tough responsibility and the power of policing? It’s not an easy job and the wrong person can do a lot of harm.
Stealing or destroying property isn’t a capital offense. Police officers are not supposed to bypass the courts and mete out punishment on scene.
Shooting suspects and using lethal force should be the last resort in order to protect your own or someone else’s life, when all other means are insufficient to accomplish that.
Police officers should be able to place the vast majority of suspects under arrest without shooting them. That’s basic policing skills.
Someone who thinks that police officers or the general public should have carte blanche to shoot looters must think that taking a human life isn’t a big deal and something that’s all in a day’s work. I find that disturbing.
Obviously police are not supposed to bypass courts.
And, obviously people should not be destroying cities, innocent people's shops, looting stores and taking their very lives.
So, as kooky pointed out, people have a right (or at least used to here in the US) to protect their lives and livelihoods. Plus, if someone is coming after "stuff" who knows where they will stop.
The problem is the police are not stopping the rioters and looters, or at least not in a timely manner. And, do you (general you) really think that they (gov) couldn't stop the riots and looting if they wanted to, and before millions of dollars of damage has been done, and people have lost their lives.
Nobody thinks cops should be running around carte blanche shooting people. But by the same token people should not be setting up autonomous zones, tearing down statues, burning cities, and looting.
And until we (general we) can have honest and open conversations (without accusations flying around) race issues will only get worse.
Our country does have a racist hx, has worked very hard to work through and overcome that, race relations were better but now have taken a turn for the worse again. IMO, the gov, media and schools are not helping.
Kooky Korky, BSN, RN
5,216 Posts
What should be the response to looting?
Shop owners have a constitutional right to protect their possessions, their lives, and their livelihood.
Don't loot and you won't get shot.