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Post by shevy on May 27, 2020 16:00:23 GMT
As consumers of media and active participants in it, we should remember that broadcasting someone’s pain is exploitative, dehumanising, and voyeuristic. There is nothing that a disquieting video or picture can accomplish that pre-existing written or oral testimonials from those who suffer could not have accomplished better. We should not have to see people’s pain, to witness them at their most vulnerable and frightened, to believe that their pain is real, that socio-political and economic forces have forced them into a state of vulnerability. We shouldn’t have to see blood to believe that it has been unfairly, repeatedly spilled. One of my friends pointed this out to me a while ago and I've tried not to watch the videos, but they are splashed all over everything and it's really difficult. My response this morning has been that POC are so traumatized, over and over again. Most are in the middle of grief, over and over, each time something happens to them, to a friend, family member or community member. We expect way too much of people in the stages of grief that are repeated so often. |
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Olan
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Post by Olan on May 27, 2020 16:07:03 GMT
I’m saddened that I live in a country that knows it has an issue but refuses to do anything actionable about it. You can’t just sit outraged and sickened anymore. Please remember how hard and long black people have fought for equality before you damn us for rioting. As someone who grew up in the area of the LA riots in 1992, hell yes to this. It took rioting to finally shed light on the rampant racism and racial tensions in Los Angeles. I've seen it first hand. I've witnessed my brother being pulled from his car and thrown face down on the concrete for no reason other than he was a brown skinned kid in a bad neighborhood driving a nice car. I'm not happy that people were hurt and property was destroyed. But that riot was a turning point. Yet here we are all these years, and still fighting racism. And we have a racist in the White House. One of my favorite Zora Neal Hurston quotes is “If you are silent about your pain, they will kill you, and say you enjoyed it.” My ancestors died enslaved or under Jim Crow. That will not be my fate. I was shocked to learn less than like 5 years ago how public lynchings were. How people would actually put on their Sunday’s best to watch life leave black bodies. When more black people make the connections I’ve made and see how little has actually changed, you can expect more rioting. |
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Post by shevy on May 27, 2020 21:01:26 GMT
Crowds are gathering outside the Third Precinct in Minneapolis again. The police are in riot gear in a line in front of it.
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Post by papercrafteradvocate on May 27, 2020 22:37:33 GMT
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Post by Darcy Collins on May 27, 2020 22:57:52 GMT
I can't begin to wrap my head around a scenario where a CUFFED man need to have his neck kneed for 9 minutes. This is just beyond wrong. That officer should be in jail yesterday awaiting murder charges. I'm late to this thread, but will say there's tons of bad info out there right now with misidentified pics - so be careful what you post - snopes is your friend.
Oh and for the person way back who asked about fraud/bad check writing. There are lists for accounts with a history of insufficient funds which are flagged and will pop up when the cashier scans the account info. The vast majority of stores will just ask for a different payment as there is no guarantee that there CURRENTLY a problem with the account - I guess some may call the police - there sure as hell isn't a death penalty for fraud or a suggestion of a violent crime, so haven't any earthly idea how it could possible escalate without racism being the driving factor.
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Post by glory77 on May 28, 2020 3:00:49 GMT
Absolutely horrifying! I'm happy the officers were fired and now I want to see charges brought against them for murder. I was thinking about what *I* would have done had I been near the scene and pleading with the officers to let him up, like so many others were doing. I kept wondering why they didn't call 911 and report what was going on and hopefully get more officers there and also get paramedics there asap. And of course it's easy to think about what I would have done now that the whole thing is over, but wow, I sure wish someone had called 911 right away. Or if a lot of people had called, surely they would have sent paramedics and more officers quickly if they received multiple 911 calls. So very, very sad that this man lost his life. He was handcuffed. There was NO need to do that to him.
What I'll never understand though is the looting and burning. These people are burning up their own neighborhood and destroying businesses that they have probably supported through the years. And now destroying the lives of those business owners. It wasn't the business owners that killed George Floyd.
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Post by cade387 on May 28, 2020 4:07:17 GMT
I will not watch the video. I thought Akilah Hughes OM the What A Day podcast have a great case for why these videos should not be watched.
I’m also disgusted that white men can storm the capitol with assault rifles In MI but the protesters in MN were not treated anywhere close to the same. I wonder why 😒
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Post by moretimeplease on May 28, 2020 5:24:49 GMT
The University of Minnesota is severing all optional ties to the MPD. Hopefully the picture of the letter is clear enough to read.  |
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2020 5:30:51 GMT
I can't begin to wrap my head around a scenario where a CUFFED man need to have his neck kneed for 9 minutes. This is just beyond wrong. That officer should be in jail yesterday awaiting murder charges. I'm late to this thread, but will say there's tons of bad info out there right now with misidentified pics - so be careful what you post - snopes is your friend. Oh and for the person way back who asked about fraud/bad check writing. There are lists for accounts with a history of insufficient funds which are flagged and will pop up when the cashier scans the account info. The vast majority of stores will just ask for a different payment as there is no guarantee that there CURRENTLY a problem with the account - I guess some may call the police - there sure as hell isn't a death penalty for fraud or a suggestion of a violent crime, so haven't any earthly idea how it could possible escalate without racism being the driving factor. We were trained to flag management when an issue like this arrived and they would handle it. PD was called on a woman with a long history of fraud and was wanted due to amount she stole. She was arrested on scene. *she had also previously passed bad checks at our store* |
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2020 5:34:08 GMT
It makes me head hurt that a human can treat another human in this manner.
It makes my heart hurt that I have friends who pray for their child's safety when they go out to enjoy life.
It just sucks.
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2020 13:50:00 GMT
TO THOSE CRITICIZING THE RIOTS
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Olan
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Post by Olan on May 28, 2020 14:38:05 GMT
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Post by iamkristinl16 on May 28, 2020 14:47:05 GMT
TO THOSE CRITICIZING THE RIOTS I can’t open this right now but will watch later. I’m interested to hear someone trying to justify violence and destruction against people who had nothing to do with the situation. Because at this time I just don’t think it is productive. I think they were just out of control and not purposeful in their protesting. They are taking advantage of the situation and just causing destruction everywhere, putting themselves and others in danger. Last night a cnn reporter was at the scene and looked terrified. A man who appeared to be under the influence came up and wanted to point out that he had been “hit” with something and had an injury. Um...from the looks of it the protestors started the violence so do you think the police aren’t going to be taking measures to protect the city? I understand the anger but this type of behavior is not helpful. ETA that I just saw this on Facebook and it was powerful. I still feel scared, sad and angry that this is going on but this post put things in perspective. —A part of George Floyd’s community is on fire tonight and there’s a massive hole in my heart. As I write this, hundreds of protesters are at the Minneapolis Police 3rd Precinct, some looting and setting fire to businesses, setting off explosives, attacking police officers, and destroying property. There have been multiple reports of gunfire throughout South Side. Police are pushing back at protesters with rubber bullets, tear gas, and other means of force. It’s mayhem. History is unfolding two miles from where I sit and will continue to unfold long into the night and in the days to come. Most of us urge and wish for *peaceful* protest and nonviolent expression of anger and outrage over racial discrimination and police brutality. I know I do. So why the looting and violence? Isn’t that counter-productive? What in the world are they thinking? What do they think violence will solve? Let me attempt to explain another way of looking at it. Think of the angry looting, violence, and property destruction in response to racial injustice as a pot of water that has come to boil and has nowhere to go but over the edge. Black people run for public office and vote for candidates that stand for racial justice; nothing changes. Black people cry out for justice to their city, local, state, and federal officials through official, sanctioned channels. Nothing changes. Black people form secular and faith-based nonviolent coalitions aiming to create dialogue with law enforcement, raise community awareness, and work for peace. Nothing changes. Black people take their message of anti-racism to social media. Nothing changes. Black people explain their anger to us white people calmly and civilly, over and over and over. Nothing changes. Black people create art that expresses their outrage, tells of their historical and current-day trauma, and urges peace. Nothing changes. Black people hold peaceful candlelight vigils on the streets in memory of their murdered brothers and sisters. Nothing changes. Black people DO march and protest peacefully in the name of justice. Nothing changes. Black people shout out their anger and outrage to anyone who will listen. Nothing changes. Black people block traffic to force public acknowledgement of their suffering at the hands of those who think they are Other, Nothing, or Less Than. Nothing changes. Put yourself in the shoes of a community who is STILL fighting back 400 years of culturally-engrained white supremacy, as evidenced by an unflinching, cold-blooded murder of one of your own by a white uniformed officer of the law in the year 2020. You have already tried everything even remotely “reasonable” and “peaceful” to change this. You’ve already been “simmering” for 400 years. Tell me. What would YOU do next? #georgefloyd #justiceforfloyd #blacklivesmatter |
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Post by *KAS* on May 28, 2020 14:49:18 GMT
I saw a couple of pictures this morning of this particular cop - one is at Trump rally and the other is a selfie of him wearing a red baseball cap that says "make whites great again." Everything about this case is appalling and disgusting, and this officer needs to be charged with murder, but this is not true. Washington Post story |
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Post by iamkristinl16 on May 28, 2020 14:58:07 GMT
I saw a couple of pictures this morning of this particular cop - one is at Trump rally and the other is a selfie of him wearing a red baseball cap that says "make whites great again." Everything about this case is appalling and disgusting, and this officer needs to be charged with murder, but this is not true. Washington Post story What about the pic that is reportedly him at a trump rally? |
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grammanisi
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Post by grammanisi on May 28, 2020 15:02:36 GMT
I heard last night that text shop owner thought he was trying to use a counterfeit $20 bill.
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grammanisi
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Post by grammanisi on May 28, 2020 15:04:48 GMT
They are destroying their own city. Hurting their own neighbors. I can't wrap my mind around that.
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Post by shevy on May 28, 2020 15:26:46 GMT
They are destroying their own city. Hurting their own neighbors. I can't wrap my mind around that. I can. They are traumatized every time the media plays a video of a POC being murdered for being black. They are grieving, emotional and lashing out. They are trying desperately to get the world to change so that their sisters/brothers, nieces, nephews and children can walk in society and not fear being killed for the color of their skin. They are desperately trying to get the attention of the while people surrounding them to help their cause. I live 20-25 minutes from the 3rd Precinct in Minneapolis. I've read several Facebook and Twitter posts by business and property owners in the area who are also POC. They're posting that they have insurance and they will cover the loss; that they care little about the property and more about a human being who lost their life for a misdemeanor crime. They're more concerned about the community of people, than the things. I've also talked to several people who've participated in the protests the last few days and most of the looting, violence and arson was started by a small group of mostly white youth/men. |
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Post by catmom on May 28, 2020 15:38:57 GMT
Not only is trauma porn ineffective in forcing people to act, instead turning us into disenchanted cynics who are painfully aware of their own powerlessness and growing desensitisation, it is also profoundly dehumanising. Racial dynamics play a central role in trauma porn, as a wide majority of these pictures and videos usually depict the suffering of black and brown people. The implicit idea is that marginalised communities’ pain has to be portrayed, as if the telling of it wasn’t enough, as if additional, visual proof was required. Trauma porn caters to well-meaning privileged Twitter and Facebook users who will consider their outrage a sufficient show of support, their outspoken indignation a token of their allyship. Seeing lifeless bodies comforts them in their politics, confirms the good adjustment of their moral compass. It validates their inertia as long as they feel the anger they are supposed to feel, as long as they hit the retweet button to “spread awareness”. Meanwhile, those whose communities are affected may experience renewed trauma and psychological damage when viewing distressing images that depict an agony that they know all too well. They don’t need to see suffering to know that it exists and that it shouldn’t. As consumers of media and active participants in it, we should remember that broadcasting someone’s pain is exploitative, dehumanising, and voyeuristic. There is nothing that a disquieting video or picture can accomplish that pre-existing written or oral testimonials from those who suffer could not have accomplished better. We should not have to see people’s pain, to witness them at their most vulnerable and frightened, to believe that their pain is real, that socio-political and economic forces have forced them into a state of vulnerability. We shouldn’t have to see blood to believe that it has been unfairly, repeatedly spilled. Trauma porn is a symptom of many combined ills: a demand for gruesome content, pervasive racial bias, and one’s unconscious or conscious desire to be seen as good-hearted and empathetic – which cannot itself be disentangled from the performative character of social media presence. To further ponder the cause of trauma porn’s emergence as a category of internet content is a crucial task, but one that goes beyond the scope of this article. Right now, what matters most is to remember its consequences. Relaying portrayals of pain on social media is as ineffective as it is harmful. The attention deficiency, media fatigue, and content overdose that plague our lives dilute the emotional power of raw, sinister portrayals of pain; except for those who are violently reminded of their own or their communities’ misfortune, for whom the emotional impact achingly lingers. Some fail to care and others fail to heal, and nothing ever changes for those whose pain is passed around mindlessly. incitejournal.com/opinion/the-pointless-consumption-of-pain-in-the-era-of-trauma-porn/I once had a pea argue me down saying how could I possibly speak about the death of a black man if I didn’t watch the blow by blow on video. Don’t become conditioned to watching black people suffer. Give your black friends some space too. . time.com/longform/south-lynching-history/Thank you so much for sharing this. It’s really good information and perspective. |
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Post by Darcy Collins on May 28, 2020 15:45:32 GMT
I'm not going to tell the people of Minneapolis how to react. I think that it's unfortunate that rioting will give too many people an excuse to talk about something besides the murder of George Floyd.
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ashley
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Post by ashley on May 28, 2020 15:45:35 GMT
This is horrifying and heartbreaking beyond words I am capable of forming.
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oh yvonne
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Post by oh yvonne on May 28, 2020 15:48:08 GMT
I finally watched the video and it is truly horrifying. My heart goes out to his family and oh gosh even the bystanders who watched in anguish and horror. MG. That was true evil right there. I pray justice is swift and severe for all of the officers. Praying for all those who hurt today, this should not be. So horrible.  |
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Olan
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Post by Olan on May 28, 2020 15:51:15 GMT
Not only is trauma porn ineffective in forcing people to act, instead turning us into disenchanted cynics who are painfully aware of their own powerlessness and growing desensitisation, it is also profoundly dehumanising. Racial dynamics play a central role in trauma porn, as a wide majority of these pictures and videos usually depict the suffering of black and brown people. The implicit idea is that marginalised communities’ pain has to be portrayed, as if the telling of it wasn’t enough, as if additional, visual proof was required. Trauma porn caters to well-meaning privileged Twitter and Facebook users who will consider their outrage a sufficient show of support, their outspoken indignation a token of their allyship. Seeing lifeless bodies comforts them in their politics, confirms the good adjustment of their moral compass. It validates their inertia as long as they feel the anger they are supposed to feel, as long as they hit the retweet button to “spread awareness”. Meanwhile, those whose communities are affected may experience renewed trauma and psychological damage when viewing distressing images that depict an agony that they know all too well. They don’t need to see suffering to know that it exists and that it shouldn’t. As consumers of media and active participants in it, we should remember that broadcasting someone’s pain is exploitative, dehumanising, and voyeuristic. There is nothing that a disquieting video or picture can accomplish that pre-existing written or oral testimonials from those who suffer could not have accomplished better. We should not have to see people’s pain, to witness them at their most vulnerable and frightened, to believe that their pain is real, that socio-political and economic forces have forced them into a state of vulnerability. We shouldn’t have to see blood to believe that it has been unfairly, repeatedly spilled. Trauma porn is a symptom of many combined ills: a demand for gruesome content, pervasive racial bias, and one’s unconscious or conscious desire to be seen as good-hearted and empathetic – which cannot itself be disentangled from the performative character of social media presence. To further ponder the cause of trauma porn’s emergence as a category of internet content is a crucial task, but one that goes beyond the scope of this article. Right now, what matters most is to remember its consequences. Relaying portrayals of pain on social media is as ineffective as it is harmful. The attention deficiency, media fatigue, and content overdose that plague our lives dilute the emotional power of raw, sinister portrayals of pain; except for those who are violently reminded of their own or their communities’ misfortune, for whom the emotional impact achingly lingers. Some fail to care and others fail to heal, and nothing ever changes for those whose pain is passed around mindlessly. incitejournal.com/opinion/the-pointless-consumption-of-pain-in-the-era-of-trauma-porn/I once had a pea argue me down saying how could I possibly speak about the death of a black man if I didn’t watch the blow by blow on video. Don’t become conditioned to watching black people suffer. Give your black friends some space too. . time.com/longform/south-lynching-history/Thank you so much for sharing this. It’s really good information and perspective. No problem! I can do a horrible job of getting my point across because there is so much anger and hurt behind it. I’m always happy when I can find an article that so succinctly expresses what I can not. I have a sister with this gift. Black women wording what I’m trying to say way better than I ever could: Ijeoma Oluo Layla Saad |
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Post by needmysanity on May 28, 2020 15:51:58 GMT
And I understand that not all LEOs are like this. I have friends who are LEOs locally and they're aware of racism and make a conscious effort to treat POC with the respect they deserve. My youngest and I have been having a lot of conversations around LEO's and racism. He is working toward being accepted in to the Police Academy and the subject of racism has come up a lot. This video was horrifying and really affected DS and how LEO's handle situations. |
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Post by catmom on May 28, 2020 15:54:40 GMT
TO THOSE CRITICIZING THE RIOTS Amen. To expect people to react to this level of injustice and cold brutality with a calm and measured response isn’t reasonable. |
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likescarrots
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Post by likescarrots on May 28, 2020 16:15:30 GMT
They are destroying their own city. Hurting their own neighbors. I can't wrap my mind around that. how is it 'their own city' when the very police force that is supposed to be protecting it's citizens is actually killing them? |
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Post by *KAS* on May 28, 2020 16:36:04 GMT
Everything about this case is appalling and disgusting, and this officer needs to be charged with murder, but this is not true. Washington Post story What about the pic that is reportedly him at a trump rally? I only knew about the red hat one b/c I saw it on Twitter last night. I didn't know anything about the Trump Rally, but just googled it b/c you asked, and according to the Washington Post it's false as well. link |
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Post by *KAS* on May 28, 2020 16:42:48 GMT
TO THOSE CRITICIZING THE RIOTS I don't know what to say about this. I DO understand his point, and his frustration. I truly do. But violence cannot possibly be the answer to making things better. I was listening to the police scanner last night while they were battling the fires, and I felt so awful about all of it. The officers said they were out of rounds of something (I assume tear gas or whatever) and somebody back at the station telling him that they couldn't get to him, he would have to get back to the station to get more. And the fireman (I assume) who was saying their firetruck was getting direct hits from rocks. Like...throwing rocks at firefighters - they aren't police officers, they weren't involved, they likely have kids at home they want to get home to, they might feel the exact same anger that the citizens feel - is NOT the answer. What will that solve? What's the 'end goal' with assaulting a firefighter after you set buildings on fire that they then go into protect? What do you think you'll gain from that? |
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Post by *sprout* on May 28, 2020 17:01:45 GMT
I saw a couple of pictures this morning of this particular cop - one is at Trump rally and the other is a selfie of him wearing a red baseball cap that says "make whites great again." Everything about this case is appalling and disgusting, and this officer needs to be charged with murder, but this is not true. Washington Post story That's good to know! Thank you! |
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Post by iamkristinl16 on May 28, 2020 17:06:13 GMT
They are destroying their own city. Hurting their own neighbors. I can't wrap my mind around that. I can. They are traumatized every time the media plays a video of a POC being murdered for being black. They are grieving, emotional and lashing out. They are trying desperately to get the world to change so that their sisters/brothers, nieces, nephews and children can walk in society and not fear being killed for the color of their skin. They are desperately trying to get the attention of the while people surrounding them to help their cause. I live 20-25 minutes from the 3rd Precinct in Minneapolis. I've read several Facebook and Twitter posts by business and property owners in the area who are also POC. They're posting that they have insurance and they will cover the loss; that they care little about the property and more about a human being who lost their life for a misdemeanor crime. They're more concerned about the community of people, than the things. I've also talked to several people who've participated in the protests the last few days and most of the looting, violence and arson was started by a small group of mostly white youth/men. I’ve also seen business owners being interviewed on tv and they do not have that stance at all. They are scared and some are carrying guns and threatening to shoot people if they try to mess with their business. I can understand the anger, and the post I quoted above made sense. But I still do not think that it is a productive way to bring about change. Many people will just think they are thugs (which is the main theme that I see on Facebook, from people of all races, including my black husband and many of his friends). ETA that I also saw the owners of the store who called the police. They are appalled and sad at what happened. They said they are receiving death threats. They said that he used a fake $20 bill. Usually when that happens the police come and give the person a ticket. |
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