Two Years After Police Murder of George Floyd, Activists Fight an Uphill Battle

Two years ago, the video showing George Floyd’s police-perpetrated killing sparked one the largest protests within the United States. According to New York Times, betweenBetween 15 and 26 Million Americans joined the Movement for Black Lives (Movement for Black Lives) in more than 550 locations. Legislation like the 2021 Justice in Policing Actvoted by Democrats in the House of Representatives but was stalled in Senate. New calls “Defund the Police”These sentiments reverberated at city halls and marches. The nation saw the potential for a transformed society at the culmination of the uprisings. One in which life-affirming priorities such as housing, education, and health care would be funded rather than police.

Activists today face a difficult task in pushing progressive ideas in an age of right-wing backlash, reactionary politics, and repression. Republicans have introduced over 100 bills aimed at criminalizing protests since the start of the rebellion sparked by the murder of Floyd, and Republican-controlled states have passed laws granting immunity to drivers who hit and kill protesters. Meanwhile, pro-policing Democrats like New York City mayor Eric Adams have been elected after decrying the “Defund the Police” movement and promising to beef up police funding.

Where does the movement go from there? TruthoutInterview Amara Enyia, is the manager of policy research and policy for the Movement for Black Lives, the massive nationwide collective that describes itself as having come together in 2015 “in response to the sustained and increasingly visible violence against Black communities in the U.S. and globally” and that “launched the Vision for Black Lives, a comprehensive and visionary policy agenda for the post-Ferguson Black liberation movement, in August of 2016.”

Nicholas Powers: What are the biggest obstacles to achieving change? We see now a reactionary pushback to the Movement for Black Lives and “Defund the Police,” and a retrenchment of older, more punitive ideas.

Amara Enyia: Well, I’ve seen governments not be responsive to the people, and one of the first steps that has to happen is people must harness their power and create systems that reflect their values. And to replace the ones we already have. Realize that things are not as they should be.

Do you want to explore that more?

Sure. The first is when people are in survival mode, they don’t have the space to imagine. I mean, it’s just hard to talk about policy when you’re facing an eviction.

Second, we are reinforced by those in power or authority that we have the right to accept the state. We internalize their notions, get stuck in a box — and yes, people get disillusioned. The third is the deliberate mystification and misunderstanding of policy. Like tax policy — it dramatically affects people’s lives, but the minute you go into the details, eyes glaze over.

Take a look at the tax system. It is unfair to low-income people of color, as it values wealth more than income. Consider redlining. J.P. Morgan lent more money to one Chicago neighborhood in 2020 than to all the Black neighborhoods.

The fact is, economic activity is something that all of us engage in. The power dynamics that affect our lives are intuitively understood by most people, but the elites speak a different language that only graduates can understand. It creates a wedge between those who decide policy and those who are directly affected by it.

It’s been two years since George Floyd protests. What are your thoughts on what triggered such an eruption? What is the lasting legacy?

We don’t know what one spark will do. We’d seen Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown before. Then, in 2020, we had a pandemic. It was a combination of circumstances that no one could have foreseen.

It is the fact we have redefined the conversation that is the legacy of it. [organized to]The billions that go into policing are unsustainable. [demand that we]You can redirect these resources to the problems that create crime. The result is the Breathe Act [a visionary bill framework] where people are given health care, fully funded schools, youth activities and more…. This goes beyond policing. We need to have the resources to address the real threats to our safety.

What are the barriers to obtaining this practical legislation passed

One of the biggest obstacles is the desire to use microwave solutions to slow-cooked problems. Too many politicians want a solution slogan that they can use in a campaign or commercial. It’s easy to say Buy more scanners, hire more police officers, and build more police stations. It is well-received on television. It is a fact that there has been a failure in public policy over the years. Too many politicians failed to see the long-term picture or admit where they had fallen short. So they retreat to the same scrappy, cheap “lock ‘em up” slogans.

How can activists and progressive politicians combat mass incarceration?

We must resist following the crowd. We see Eric Adams here in Chi-Town, with Lori Lightfoot, a Black woman who uses law-and-order rhetoric. We have to point out to the people that there’s a history. Look at the 1994 Crime Bill, remind them that it doesn’t work. We must advocate for policies that address mental health or say one. [issue]This is something that is often overlooked: environmental racism. What about lead exposure? Lead can cause impulsive behavior and neurotoxic effects. Lead can cause violent behavior in young people, but we don’t know why. Add to that the lack or disinvestment of youth programs and counselors at school. We throw them in jail when they are adults.

Laquan McDonald was the Chicago police officer who murdered him. In a sense, he was murdered long before they killed them.

We must stop putting social problems on the police. They only have two tools: a gun, and the power of arrest.

What are some policy recommendations that you would advocate to prevent this default reliance upon policing from happening again?

Increase funding for frontline prevention of violence. These workers come from the community and have natural relationships. They know the people in their neighborhood.

Next, continue to fund frontline prevention. How can they do their job if they are not sure if they will be supported in the coming year? To follow up on that, align federal, state and city resources to amplify the impact the social services can have… Follow up with expanding programs for the youth. Thirty years ago we had arts, music, and gardening activities. Now they are left out on the streets.

The most important thing for those of you involved in the movement is to learn from them. We can also get into our bubble. I speak to everyday people and listen. They know what is important to them.

Note: This interview was lightly edited and condensed in preparation for publication.