Turmoil in America
“I can’t breathe.” These three words have changed the nation and the world around us. May 25, 2020, for most people, was a normal day. Either you were quarantined, an essential employee, or went outside as a necessity. However, for George Floyd, it was his last day on earth. George Floyd was an African American man who resided in Minneapolis. He went to a market to purchase some personal things and was accused of using a counterfeit $20 bill. Due to this, the police were called and he was arrested. Instead of the police handling this with normalcy and protocol, a police officer decided to lay him down and put his knees on Mr. Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. George Floyd showed no signs of resistance and the other police officers acted like bystanders. Derek Chauvin is the police officer responsible for this death and has been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
Following this incident, many cities have decided to protest and the #BlackLivesMatter movement has reemerged. As a Muslim girl and a person of color, a motto that The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) taught his followers and I abide by is, “As God has made you one brotherhood, so be not divided. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab; nor is a white one to be preferred to a dark one, nor a dark one to a white one.” The Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings be upon him) warned us about racism and the issues we are currently going through.
Although these protests are impactful and are trying to bring awareness, they have become violent. A police precinct and stores are being set on fire which is then being looted and damaged. Many popular stores like Target, CVS, and Nordstrom are being targeted as well as luxury stores. While protesting, many individuals are being tear-gassed, are getting hit with rubber bullets, and are sustaining injuries. People of all colors, races, ethnicities, and religions are coming together to protest but violence is not the answer. Burning places, looting, and fighting back is not going to change the world, but is going to lead to more deaths and troubles. Instead, peaceful protests should occur as no one is getting hurt and the message is still being sent.
Martin Luther King Jr. is known as one of the greatest activists during the Civil Rights Movement and advocated for peaceful and nonviolent protests. He led the Montgomery bus boycott, Selma to Montgomery marches, and the march for Jobs and Freedom, which were all nonviolent. Thus, we should follow the examples of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and should protest peacefully.
To end the cycle of racism, we need to accept each other and understand that we are all created by the same Creator. While many are going outside to protest, as a Muslim girl, I am retaliating with a pen.
