The year of 2020 is one that our generation will never forget due to the sheer number of major events that occurred in such a short period of time. March marked the beginning of the pandemic along with the still occurring racial justice movement led by Black Lives Matter. A year later, where is the BLM movement now?
Although there has always been a fight for justice, equality and respect for people of color, the killing of Breonna Taylor was a spark that fueled many to bravely protest and seek justice for her and her family. Taylor’s boyfriend was charged with assault and attempted murder after shoot-
ing one of the officers in the leg after they stormed their apartment. Since then, the charges have been dropped.
None of the officers who took part in the “no-knock” raid were charged for Taylor’s killing. However, in the last year, three officers within the Louisville Police Department have been fired.
Social media has played a significant role in spreading awareness concerning the protests, sharing the names of victims of police brutality and updating information. Platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook acted as hubs where videos of protests, injustice and information about other protest plans were circulating.
The world watched the video of George Floyd suffering as an officer placed his knee on Floyd’s neck, causing him to suffocate last May. People began sharing the video on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to spread awareness of the injustice Floyd and his family experienced.
The trial for Derek Chauvin began on March 29. Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree man-slaughter.
In the last four days, multiple people have testified in court about the event that took place. Paramedic Derek Smith; Floyd’s girlfriend; Courteney Ross; and Sgt. David Pleoger of the Minneapolis Police Department have all testified most recently.
With the ongoing trial for Chauvin, social media will continue to be a major player in spreading news of who has testified, what new information has been released and what decisions are being made so far. This generation of young people are dedicated to making sure they use their social media accounts to spread awareness and important news.
Although we do not know the decision of what consequences Chauvin will face, once the trial is over and Chauvin is held accountable for his actions, maybe Floyd’s family will have a sense of peace and relief. There will be more information to come in the following days concerning Chauvin and his consequences. The trial can be watched live on CNN, and a summary is posted throughout the trial.
While we wait for justice to be served, it is necessary for us to continue supporting people of color and spreading awareness concerning the injustice they continue to face. We can do this by checking in on our friends, sharing information on our social media accounts and staying up to date with future events.
Photo by Kaily Paddie
