He observed that, “Black people, the world over, are shocked and distraught by the killing of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, by a white police officer in the United States of America. It carried with it an all too painful familiarity, and an ugly reminder. It cannot be right that, in the 21st century, the United States, this great bastion of democracy, continues to grapple with the problem of systemic racism.”
“On behalf of the people of Ghana, I express my deep condolences to the family and loved ones of the late George Floyd,” he wrote on his Facebook page.
George Floyd, 46, died in police custody after a White officer, Derek Chauvin, kneeled on his neck for nearly eight minutes during an arrest in Minneapolis on May 25. The cellphone video of the brutal killing has been shared tens of millions of times around the world. In it, Floyd can be heard pleading for help and letting the officers know that he was suffocating.
“I can’t breathe,” Floyd cries out to the cops. He also called out for his mama.
The California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) issued a statement after Floyd’s death.
“There were other officers who could have helped him but did not,” read the CLBC statement. “They instead preferred to stand by and watch as their colleague killed an unarmed man. There were bystanders who wanted to help him but could not because of the uniforms, guns and badges that stood in the way”.
His death, has resulted in a lot of fiery protest which escalated into violent rioting in every major American city as well as some some smaller towns.
In California, the demonstrations have led to the death of a Black law enforcement professional, mass looting, arson, vandalism and billions of dollars in property loss.
The protests got so violent and destructive in Los Angeles that Gov. Newsom has declared a state of emergency in all of Los Angeles County after the city requested emergency aid for the state to activate and deploy the California National Guard.
Some Leaders across the world have also expressed worry over the incident and have condemned racism.
Here in Ghana, President Akufo-Addo however, has also expressed hope that the incident will inspire a lasting change in how America confronts head on the problems of hate and racism.
“We stand with our kith and kin in America in these difficult and trying times, and we hope that the unfortunate, tragic death of George Floyd will inspire a lasting change in how America confronts head on the problems of hate and racism,” he wrote.
