GEORGE Floyd, an Afro-American, was arrested by police for using a 20 dollar counterfeit note. He was forced to move into a police van. Floyd told police he was claustrophobic (a phobia for narrow places) but police turned a deaf ear to him. The police officer, Derek Chauvin, who is white, put his knee on 46-year-old Floyd’s neck for nine minutes, killing him on the spot.

Although he and three other officers have since been sacked, violent protests have erupted in Atlanta, New York and other US cities. The apathy of police is regrettable.

Third degree violence for a fake 20 dollar note is beyond cannons of justice. Floyd’s death has exposed the brutal police system of the US. Hopefully, the perpetrators of violence will be brought to book and will be handed out severe punishment.

I.M

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2020