May 25th is the day George Floyd was murdered. The world watched a man’s life snuffed out by the depraved indifference of one police officer. The murderer’s name is not important because his disturbingly blank visage has become the avatar for police brutality worldwide. The horror of that snuff-film was so universal that demonstrations broke out WORLDWIDE! City streets, literally around the globe, were filled with human beings who had never met George Floyd, but who ached with compassion and empathy. To hear a man cry for his mother with his dying breaths moved us all to tears. The compassion and empathy of mankind drove many people into the streets simply to be together. To witness something so horrific, humanity needed healing. Only the communion of togetherness could heal the broken heart of mankind.
May 25th should be set aside as a national day of remembrance accorded the same respect and gravitas as other national days of remembrance. The purpose of this website is to remember May 25th, 2020. It is one more terrible day that should live on in infamy. The brutal murder of George Floyd should not be forgotten. But it’s what happened after that horrible event of May 25th that should also be memorialized: the people of the world coming together for healing through communion and togetherness.
It seemed like bringing the world’s attention to the problem of police brutality might finally bring change. Hope was in the air. So while May 25th will memorialize George Floyd, it will also honor all the victims of police brutality. We don’t want to lose all the momentum that was gained on that terrible day. It feels like it’s already slipping away…
Every officer who wears a uniform with honor and professionalism, and who puts his or her life on the line everyday to make the world a better place should agree: police brutality must end. (full stop!) It makes it harder for everyone. No one wants to be the victim of police brutality, but it also makes it much harder for honorable individuals to carry out their duty to protect and serve their communities. That’s why ending it must be everyone’s priority.
May 25th should be a day that brings people together to end police brutality. May 25th should not be forgotten. We should be remember how the world came together for healing. The worldwide protests after George Floyd’s murder proved our common humanity. There was a trauma inflicted on every person who witnessed it. Such trauma requires massive healing. Healing begins with remembering and mourning. Remembering, mourning and healing are the necessary steps we must take if we want a brighter future. And we should take those steps together – hand in hand, arm locked in arm.
So, while we mourn the victims of police misconduct, we must also embrace the vast majority of officers – men and women of all colors, races, nationalities, ethnic backgrounds, etc. – who put on their law enforcement uniforms everyday with the sole intention to make the world a better place. That is truly an act of courage.
It’s an act of courage because those individuals know there is no guarantee of success. Quite the opposite. They are often derided by the very communities they seek to improve – often the neighborhoods and communities of their childhoods. Just think how high the stakes are for those brave individuals. Their hearts are on the line everyday as they dance along the double edged sword they have chosen for their profession. May 25th should also be a day to remember and thank those decent, honorable anonymous heroes.
Healing through remembrance: May 25th. A day of togetherness. Multi-cultural, multi-racial, multi-multi-multi togetherness: old – young; black – white – asian – latino – Inuit – anyone who wants to join hands and hearts in a festival of healing through remembrance – everyone will be welcome.
Remember when all the people of the world were so touched hearing big George Floyd crying out for his mother with his dying breaths, so moved that they took to the streets to protest? Writing these words is difficult. Remembering the horror of that day is even more difficult. And we should never forget. But what happened right after was pretty special and worth remembering too. The worldwide reaction was as surprising as it was inspirational. Let’s not lose all the momentum. Remembering is the only way to keep it going.
The purpose of this website is to memorialize such a historic day. And to remember big George Floyd.
