Black Lives Taken: George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery

Published on May 28, 2020

On May 25, George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes as he lay face-down and handcuffed. In a now-viral video, Floyd repeatedly tells the officer that he cannot breathe before going motionless.

This news comes on the heels of the killings of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, two other unarmed Black individuals whose deaths have drawn public attention and widespread outcry.

Below is some background on the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, as well as information on how people are responding, what’s being done, and how you can take action in response to these tragedies.

Do you need immediate help or know someone who does? Text DS to 741-741 to contact the Crisis Text Line, free, 24/7 support for those in crisis.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• What Has Been the Public Response to the George Floyd Video?
• What’s Being Done About It?
• What About Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor?
• Why Does This Keep Happening?
• What Can I Do?

What Has Been the Public Response to the George Floyd Video?

As civilian footage of the incident was released online, the response was widespread and resounding: George Floyd did not deserve to die, and there must be justice for his death.

Hundreds gathered in protest at the intersection where Floyd was pinned, and they marched to the Minneapolis Police's 3rd Precinct. There, some protestors clashed with officers, who eventually used tear gas and rubber bullets on the crowd.

On social media, several activists, lawmakers from both parties, and celebrities joined in on the conversation, condemning the officers’ brutality and demanding accountability for their actions. Public figures like LeBron James, Madonna, and Ava DuVernay, spread the news of the deadly encounter online.

George Floyd

What’s Being Done About It?

Four police officers involved in the incident have been fired, though there are currently no charges filed against them. Floyd’s family members believe the four officers should be charged with murder -- a sentiment echoed by many online and off.

It’s definitely still a possibility, as both the FBI and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are investigating what occurred.

What About Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor?

Part of what makes Floyd’s death so horrifying is that it happened so shortly after the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. Arbery and Taylor, both Black, were also unarmed and died at the hands of law enforcement (or, in the case of Arbery, civilians acting as law enforcement).

On February 23, Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, was jogging near his home when he was followed and shot to death by two white men, Gregory and Travis McMichaels, in what they believed was an act of vigilante justice. Viral video of the incident showed Arbery jogging down a street before reaching the McMichaels’ parked pick-up truck, jogging around the side of the vehicle to avoid them, and then being shot.

On what would have been Arbery’s birthday, people nationwide ran 2.23 miles in his honor through the #RunWithMaud campaign -- including several DoSomething members.

After passing through the hands of three different prosecutors, Arbery’s killing is currently being investigated as a federal hate crime, and three men have been arrested in connection to the case for murder and attempt to commit false imprisonment.

Ahmaud Arbery

On March 13, 26-year-old Breonna Taylor and her boyfriend Kenneth Walker were asleep in their apartment when three plainclothes police officers forced their way inside under a “no-knock” search warrant for a man who did not live there. Thinking their home was being broken into, Walker, a licensed gun owner, grabbed his firearm and shot an officer in the leg. Police then fired 20 times into the apartment, killing Taylor.

Taylor’s family is still seeking the arrest of the three police officers who killed her, and an FBI investigation is underway. Prosecutors have dropped charges against Taylor’s boyfriend.

Breonna Taylor

Why Does This Keep Happening?

These three tragedies are just the most recent and high-profile cases in a larger pattern of police brutality and misconduct in the US. Countless more go unreported (or underreported) each year.

The fact is, our systems of law enforcement and criminal justice have some serious flaws. Research shows that Black, Native American, and Latinx individuals are more likely to die at the hands of law enforcement than their white counterparts, and 1 in every 1,000 Black men and boys can expect to be killed by police. People of color are also more likely to be stopped, searched, given citations, and arrested by police even while exhibiting similar behavior to their white counterparts.

Unnecessary deaths like Floyd’s, Arbery’s, and Taylor’s reveal to us these deeper, systemic issues in the way we treat people of color in this country. It’s up to us to channel our rage, frustration, and sadness over these events into action and change.

What Can I Do?

• Sign the petition. Demand the officers who killed George Floyd are charged with murder.
• Know your rights. Videos documenting police violence help keep those in power accountable. Understand your rights to record law enforcement, consult with your specific state’s laws as well, and above all, prioritize your own safety before you consider filming.
• Practice self-care. Experiencing discrimination or even seeing it on the news can be challenging. Practice self-care and help those around you do the same with our guide on coping with discrimination.
• Reach out if you need to. The Crisis Text Line is there for you with 24/7 support. Text DS to 741-741 to connect with a crisis counselor.