With the recent death of George Floyd, America has been left to think about how far we have come with accepting people of all races, sexualities, beliefs, religions, etc. There have been many protests all around the world with people fighting against the injustice that surrounds what happened to George Floyd and other African Americans in the past few years. It seems like the country is not moving forward in the fight for acceptance and equality for all people, but that it is moving backwards to a time where African Americans had to be scared about walking outside their house. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Law and order exist for the purpose of establishing justice and when they fail in this purpose they become the dangerously structured dams that block the flow of social progress.” This quote came from his famous “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” where he and other protesters were put on April 12 after they disobeyed the orders of Circuit Judge W. A. Jenkins Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. spent his life fighting for equal treatment for everyone but over the past few years, it seems that people have forgotten his legacy. 

The protests happening all over the world are calling for the officers who were a part of George Floyd’s death to be brought to justice. They are also fighting so “…one day [people will] live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” No matter if you sign a petition, go to a protest, donate, or call the leaders in charge you will be helping the fight for justice. The fight cannot be successful if people just sit there silent and wait for others to speak up. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” No longer is talking going to help solve problems or get the justice and equality that African Americans deserve. The government needs to hear the outcry of our anger and the screams of our sadness, they need to see that what has been happening to African Americans is no longer accepted and that we, as a nation, will no longer turn the other cheek just because of our skin color. It does not matter what color your skin is, whether you are black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, or others you can still fight against the injustice that has been put on African Americans all over the world. This is not just a fight for the justice of one African American that was unjustly killed; it is for all the 100 in that picture and countless more who have been killed by police in the United States.

Here is a list of ways you can help.

Gofundme- https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd This is the only Gofundme that the family of George Floyd has created please be careful to watch for scam pages.

Petitions- https://www.change.org/t/justice-for-george-floyd-en-us?source_location=homepage This is a list of petitions that have been made on Change.org 

https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/justiceforfloyd_george_floyd_minneapolis This is a petition made by colorofchange.org 

Numbers to call- Call County Attorney Mike Freeman at 612-348-5550 to demand justice, accountability and/or policing changes. Call Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison at 651-296-3353. Call Gov. Walz at 651-201-3400

Paylynn Sormrude, Staff Writer

Junior Paylynn Sormrude is a staff writer for the 2019-2020 Colonel. She participates in varsity indoor and outdoor track. When she is not playing or practicing she can be found curled up in a comfy spot reading and listening to music.