Minneapolis riots

Protests against the police killing of an unarmed black man in the United States city of Minneapolis have turned into riots, with arson attacks, looting, and at least one man shot dead. The protests, initially non-violent, started earlier this week after 46-year-old George Floyd was killed during an arrest. Television footage shows Floyd lying on the ground as a white policeman kneeled over him with his knee on Floyd’s neck. Floyd pleads, “I can’t breathe,” multiple times before passing out. The policeman still doesn’t remove his knee. Three other policemen at the scene did nothing to stop their colleague. Floyd was eventually taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Although the cops have been fired, their sacking only came after the footage became public, and even the city mayor called for their dismissal. The unrest has got the attention of President Donald Trump, who tweeted that he “can’t stand back & watch this happen to a great American City, Minneapolis”, adding that he had talked to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz “and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”

While Minneapolis is known more as a town famous for its rich musical and artistic culture — Bob Dylan and Prince both grew up there — it also, like many American cities, has a history of racism. It is no wonder that Prince was once inspired to write, “Now’s the time to find a rhyme, That’s got a reason and frees the mind From angry thoughts, the racist kind, If we all want a change, then come on get in line.”

Unfortunately, when police started shooting protesters with rubber bullets, the scene became more reminiscent of something written by Dylan. “There’s a battle outside and it’s ragin’, It’ll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls, For the times they are a-changin’.”

Regrettably, the news is now focusing on the protest’s effect rather than its cause — racism. Slavery was arguably America’s greatest sin, and its legacy lives on today. Yet millions refuse to accept it was a sin at all. It is unfortunate that another Dylan lyrics from 1975 still applies today. “Couldn’t help but make me feel ashamed, To live in a land, Where justice is a game.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2020.

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