George Floyd was not the first unarmed Black person to die at the hands, so to speak, of a police officer. We already know he won’t be the last (say his name: Jamel Floyd). The death of George Floyd, along with similarly unjust killings that recently took the lives of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, sparked protests that rightly focused the attention of our country and the world on systemic racism, white supremacy, and police violence in America.
White supremacy and racial oppression—totally separate from the response of any elected official or police force to those engaged in peaceful protest—stand as stains on America’s record in the eyes of the world. However, the president of the United States could have responded this past week in ways that helped us move closer to justice, and in ways that strengthened our democracy. He did the opposite. The world is taking note.
Germany’s Der Spiegel is that country’s most influential weekly news publication. It has the highest circulation numbers of any news weekly in Europe. Please take a look at its most recent cover. The description of Trump translates most directly as “Fire Devil: A President Sets His Country on Fire.” Continue reading.