Protesting for Social Progress
Students join the Black Lives Matter movement to end police brutality
By Jocelyn Cosgrove
Students join the Black Lives Matter movement to end police brutality
By Jocelyn Cosgrove
On May 25, at 9:25 p.m., George Floyd died at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota of severe neck injuries sustained by the hands of a police officer, sparking the Black Lives Matter protests that began on May 26 and quickly spread with the news of the tragedy that happened the day before.
Following these events, students and teachers alike have seen and contributed to post after post on social media regarding the BLM movement and other movements, such as women's rights and LGBTQ+ rights. Many people, including Pioneer students have posted about the acts of police brutality, tributes to Black Americans who were killed, and posts fighting with Black Lives Matter to show solidarity with the fight against racism.
Ava Martino, 12, attended a Black Lives Matter protest earlier this year, and feels that even though the movement has helped, it is far from over.
“I think there has been more awareness of the injustices black people face in their day to day life, but I still think we are far from getting more rights, protection, and equality from the people that they need it from the most.” said Martino.
U.S history teacher Peter Glasser feels that this movement is going to take years, not months to get the rights and protection Black Americans have been asking for, although the societal change has already begun.
“One thing I feel grateful for and proud of is how that movement has been so successful in asking people with privilege to acknowledge that privilege. We live in a place where certain people have more opportunities. There is no denying that.” said Glasser.
Math teacher Jeneé Dampier feels that there are many similar aspects between the Black Lives Matter Movement and the Civil Rights Movement, despite the time between the two.
“The Civil Rights Movement was asking for the systematic change in the legal system, where Black Americans were requesting to be able to legally walk, breathe, eat, sit, exist,” said Dampier, “Now, the Black Lives Matter movement is addressing Black Americans’ ability to legally walk, breath, eat, sit, exist in peace.”
Both movements have worked to bring equality, while also succeeding in getting people to confront their privilege.
“I think that one of the greatest achievements of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and ‘60s was simply to get northern white people to care one way or the other,” said Glasser, “Civil rights is about defending a society in which justice and equality prevail.”
Since the protests began, 15 to 26 million people have participated nationwide, fighting against police brutality towards people of color. While some protests have become violent such as those in Seattle and Minneapolis, Brianna Gillen, 12, had a much different experience.
“I went to a protest in downtown Willow Glen. It was a peaceful protest where people were wearing masks, undisturbed by the police.” says Gillen.
With the discussion of police brutality calls to defund the police have arisen due to the unnecessary force and violence used by officers and the racism they were founded upon.
“The police system is fundamentally corrupt at its origin, and there are still aspects of that injustice that are instilled in our justice system today,” said Dampier, “While we are far from the original purpose of police, we still need to be critical of what the purpose of the police system is and how necessary they are for certain situations.”
During the riots and protests in Minneapolis, CNN reporter Omar Jimenez and his production team were reporting on the riots when they were arrested by police officers on camera and live. The police officers gave no reason on why Jimenez and his team were arrested, bringing up the First Amendment which grants Americans freedom of the press and speech.
“This event was a clear violation of the 1st Amendment, but also eye-opening to see on national television. I know this situation brought up a lot of questions but also stirred up some meaningful conversations” said Dampier.
The actions taken by the police in this instance, created concern among others, as it was intentional and unapologetic suppression of the press.
“In general terms, it is, I think a travesty when journalists are prevented from reporting the news. I think it’s one of the greatest threats to democracy that you can have” said Glasser.
As the current president Donald Trump refuses to answer the call protesters have been sending out about police brutality, people are worried about the future of people of color, especially Black Americans in this country, as he has failed to condemn white supremacy.
“He is quoted condemning the Black Lives Matter movement, where he claims the protest begging for equal rights for all citizens is a “symbol of hate.” If he has not condemned Confederalism as the same, then it is fairly clear that he is not in a position to answer the call for equality,” said Dampier.
With the upcoming presidential election in November, many have hope that a new president will bring change, but others feel that it will take a collective governmental effort to truly move the country forward.
“The BLM movement needs the legislative branch and needs the court system a lot more than it needs a new president.” said Glasser. “That said, a new president has a lot of control who gets chosen as judges and especially if the same political party takes over both houses of Congress there might be more of a unity of purpose.”
Following these events, students and teachers alike have seen and contributed to post after post on social media regarding the BLM movement and other movements, such as women's rights and LGBTQ+ rights. Many people, including Pioneer students have posted about the acts of police brutality, tributes to Black Americans who were killed, and posts fighting with Black Lives Matter to show solidarity with the fight against racism.
Ava Martino, 12, attended a Black Lives Matter protest earlier this year, and feels that even though the movement has helped, it is far from over.
“I think there has been more awareness of the injustices black people face in their day to day life, but I still think we are far from getting more rights, protection, and equality from the people that they need it from the most.” said Martino.
U.S history teacher Peter Glasser feels that this movement is going to take years, not months to get the rights and protection Black Americans have been asking for, although the societal change has already begun.
“One thing I feel grateful for and proud of is how that movement has been so successful in asking people with privilege to acknowledge that privilege. We live in a place where certain people have more opportunities. There is no denying that.” said Glasser.
Math teacher Jeneé Dampier feels that there are many similar aspects between the Black Lives Matter Movement and the Civil Rights Movement, despite the time between the two.
“The Civil Rights Movement was asking for the systematic change in the legal system, where Black Americans were requesting to be able to legally walk, breathe, eat, sit, exist,” said Dampier, “Now, the Black Lives Matter movement is addressing Black Americans’ ability to legally walk, breath, eat, sit, exist in peace.”
Both movements have worked to bring equality, while also succeeding in getting people to confront their privilege.
“I think that one of the greatest achievements of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and ‘60s was simply to get northern white people to care one way or the other,” said Glasser, “Civil rights is about defending a society in which justice and equality prevail.”
Since the protests began, 15 to 26 million people have participated nationwide, fighting against police brutality towards people of color. While some protests have become violent such as those in Seattle and Minneapolis, Brianna Gillen, 12, had a much different experience.
“I went to a protest in downtown Willow Glen. It was a peaceful protest where people were wearing masks, undisturbed by the police.” says Gillen.
With the discussion of police brutality calls to defund the police have arisen due to the unnecessary force and violence used by officers and the racism they were founded upon.
“The police system is fundamentally corrupt at its origin, and there are still aspects of that injustice that are instilled in our justice system today,” said Dampier, “While we are far from the original purpose of police, we still need to be critical of what the purpose of the police system is and how necessary they are for certain situations.”
During the riots and protests in Minneapolis, CNN reporter Omar Jimenez and his production team were reporting on the riots when they were arrested by police officers on camera and live. The police officers gave no reason on why Jimenez and his team were arrested, bringing up the First Amendment which grants Americans freedom of the press and speech.
“This event was a clear violation of the 1st Amendment, but also eye-opening to see on national television. I know this situation brought up a lot of questions but also stirred up some meaningful conversations” said Dampier.
The actions taken by the police in this instance, created concern among others, as it was intentional and unapologetic suppression of the press.
“In general terms, it is, I think a travesty when journalists are prevented from reporting the news. I think it’s one of the greatest threats to democracy that you can have” said Glasser.
As the current president Donald Trump refuses to answer the call protesters have been sending out about police brutality, people are worried about the future of people of color, especially Black Americans in this country, as he has failed to condemn white supremacy.
“He is quoted condemning the Black Lives Matter movement, where he claims the protest begging for equal rights for all citizens is a “symbol of hate.” If he has not condemned Confederalism as the same, then it is fairly clear that he is not in a position to answer the call for equality,” said Dampier.
With the upcoming presidential election in November, many have hope that a new president will bring change, but others feel that it will take a collective governmental effort to truly move the country forward.
“The BLM movement needs the legislative branch and needs the court system a lot more than it needs a new president.” said Glasser. “That said, a new president has a lot of control who gets chosen as judges and especially if the same political party takes over both houses of Congress there might be more of a unity of purpose.”