I can’t breath, I can’t breath, I can’t breath….!!!

George Perry Floyd Jr. (October 14, 1973 – May 25, 2020) was an African-American man who was gruesomely murdered by 4 police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, while under their custody. His death triggered a world-wide condemnation and protest over systemic racism and police brutality and delibrate use of excessive force especially towards black people in America.

Derek Chauvin, one of the police officers involved knelt on Floyd’s neck and back (no bare concrete) for 9 minutes and 29 seconds, more than 3 mins after he already died of suffocation.

His dying words, “I can’t breathe,” became a rallying cry.  Mass campaign and petition – “Justice for George Floyd” led to successfully conviction of Derek Chauven and was sentenced by the trial judge to twenty two and half years in prison.  It was the first conviction of a white officer in Minnesota for the murder of a black person.

May his gentle soul continue to rest in peace and power !