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Paul Mendel, who has lived in New York for over four years, admits he has never seen anything like this here. Protests in the United States over the death of George Floyd, an African American, when a police officer clutching his neck to the knee suffocated him, rotated in an unpredictable direction.
Following the announcement of a coronavir quarantine in New York on March 16, Mendel has barely gotten his nose out of his home. Although it was already planned to allow city residents to return to work on June 8, the Lithuanian says he is unsure whether it will be possible, not because of COVID-19, but because of the riots on the streets.
“Thefts are taking place in New York, police cars are burning and riots are taking place. Last night, the New York governor announced the curfew from 11 pm to 5 pm in the morning. Anyone who is not home after 11 pm she will be detained. It makes you feel very uncomfortable, “Paul admitted.
Photo by Paul Mendel / Protests in the USA USA
Feeling great tension, the Lithuanian leaves the house alone to the nearby store. Also, he said, there is no significant danger during the day. Vandals only take to the streets at night.
“Around my house at the moment I am calm, I live near the police station. However, it is feared that the compound may catch fire, so the surrounding streets are closed and police officers are on duty. In general, the streets are full of officials, the stores closed the windows of the vandals. For three days, helicopters have been circling around Manhattan and Brooklyn. Police sirens mask at night, it’s hard to even fall asleep, “he says.
According to him, the vandals seize the opportunity when the police forces gather to control the protests and, at the same time, terrorize the stores.
Still, compared to other cities, Paul admits that living in New York is pretty safe right now. But be careful, don’t be ashamed.
“Actually, when I get home, I lock all the locks. In fact, there is a strong sense of insecurity throughout the city that vandalism groups may be able to invade residential areas. The images are traumatic. The city is in complete chaos, I don’t know when New York will be open to life again.
I feel a lot of emotion inside. And anger, anxiety and fear, as well as a sense of unity. Together with close friends we share experiences. Knowing how many people are currently experiencing the same feelings helps to combat bad emotions, “says P. Mendelis.
Photo by Paul Mendel / Protests in the USA USA
Floyd’s death is just the tip of the iceberg
In late May, a video shook the world of Flloyd’s death, even though the 46-year-old was trying to say he couldn’t breathe, sparked a huge wave of outrage. People from 75 cities took to the streets to protest, to demand justice. However, according to Paul, this event was only the tip of the iceberg.
“Movements for other murder cases also led to this protest. In February of this year, 25-year-old black man Ahmaud Arbury was killed. While running in a Caucasian-dominated area in Georgia, he was killed by three Caucasians who They chased cars while armed. After swallowing the young man, the men prevented him from both sides and carried out the execution. No one has been punished for the murder because the men are former law enforcement officers.
Also immediately after that was Breonna Taylor, 26, who worked in a hospital. Police officers broke into her home and shot the woman with dozens of bullets. It later emerged that officers had mistaken the address and had not gone to that house, but the man they were seeking was already in custody. No one was punished. That’s why people broke up after this event, “says Paul.
Photo by Paul Mendel / Protests in the USA USA
However, the peaceful protests quickly acquired grim shadows. With the prevailing chaos, it has already become difficult to distinguish who fights for what and by what means. Paul says that by constantly seeing images shot by friends and hearing their stories from the scene, he himself cannot believe where the peaceful fight for justice has led.
“The protests are divided into several camps. Protests and peaceful marches are held during the day to seek justice in the investigation into the murder of George Floyd. However, there are reports that protesters from neighboring cities arrive in the cities and cause disturbances at night.
Radical right and left groups (white supremacists and ANTIFA) are inciting riots with the police, burning shops, damaging property and blaming peaceful protesters for responsibility and blame. The police force is also said to hire secret police, who join the crowd and incite riots, “says P. Mendelis.
The Lithuanian says that the groups of peaceful protesters and vandals must be very clearly separated. According to him, the vandals seize the opportunity when the police forces gather to control the protests and, at the same time, terrorize the stores. Also, they have absolutely nothing to do with the protests, their goal is not to fight for George Floyd.
However, it is more difficult for a Lithuanian to realize that the police can be involved in promoting conflict and unrest.
“Civilian officials are said to incite riots and chaos. Bricks, cars, other provocative objects are left on the streets to provoke riots by vandals. Officials have experience with the protests, so they take advantage of the situation to accuse protesters of being detained and entering the curfew, he considers. “And so, the peaceful people and the message they send remain aside, everything is overshadowed by cruelty.”
Photo by Paul Mendel / Protests in the USA USA
According to Paul, the chaos could stop very quickly, only bringing justice and punishing the officials who contributed to Flloyd’s death.
“I personally support human rights. I believe that in a democracy, the police should punish everyone equally for crimes, because it is the cornerstone of democracy.” To stop these protests and riots, all you have to do is punish four policemen who killed the suspect in daylight.
But the police have chosen a different path. Not to punish our police officers, because that would mean criminalizing all past killings, but to allow protests to spread across the United States and turn into riots, he says. – A police officer who hit an African American on his way and killed him is currently under arrest and charged with third degree (unintentional) murder. However, all other officials remain at large. “
A police officer who hit an African American on his way and killed him is currently under arrest and charged with third degree (unintentional) murder.
However, the Lithuanians do not expect the chaos to die down soon. “I think it will continue for a while. London, Berlin and Tokyo joined the Protestant cities. I think the protests will reach more and more cities and states.
Still, I think justice will be done and the police will be punished. Of course, the riots will not be victimless. Randas will stay. But the focus is on solving the problem, not the noise around it. “
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