Obama slams violence in George Floyd protests, says black community has to 'operate on a higher ethical code'
In the wake of violent protests following the death of George Floyd, former President Barack Obama has penned an op-ed, laying down a number of steps that can help fight systemic racism in the country. "As millions of people across the country take to the streets and raise their voices in response to the killing of George Floyd and the ongoing problem of unequal justice, many people have reached out asking how we can sustain momentum to bring about real change. Ultimately, it’s going to be up to a new generation of activists to shape strategies that best fit the times. But I believe there are some basic lessons to draw from past efforts that are worth remembering," he said at the beginning of his op-ed in Medium, which was titled, 'How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change.'
While the first black POTUS of America applauded the "majority of participants" in the protests who had been "peaceful, courageous, responsible, and inspiring" while expressing their "genuine and legitimate frustration over a decades-long failure to reform police practices and the broader criminal justice system" he condemned those who were responsible for spreading violence and vandalism across the nation in the name of protests.
"The small minority of folks who’ve resorted to violence in various forms, whether out of genuine anger or mere opportunism, are putting innocent people at risk, compounding the destruction of neighborhoods that are often already short on services and investment and detracting from the larger cause. I saw an elderly black woman being interviewed today in tears because the only grocery store in her neighborhood had been trashed. If history is any guide, that store may take years to come back," he wrote.
Hence, he added: "So let’s not excuse violence, or rationalize it, or participate in it. If we want our criminal justice system, and American society at large, to operate on a higher ethical code, then we have to model that code ourselves."
On the other hand, while he agreed to the fact that protests were a "direct action" that "can bring about change" he whole-heartedly disagreed with the fact that "voting and participation in electoral politics is a waste of time." The problem, he said, with the youth of the country was that most of them tend to be interested in "the presidency and the federal government" when it comes to politics. He urged them to turn their focus on their respective local governments.
"It’s mayors and county executives that appoint most police chiefs and negotiate collective bargaining agreements with police unions. It’s district attorneys and state’s attorneys that decide whether or not to investigate and ultimately charge those involved in police misconduct. Those are all elected positions," he said.
In conclusion, Obama said: "I recognize that these past few months have been hard and dispiriting — that the fear, sorrow, uncertainty, and hardship of a pandemic have been compounded by tragic reminders that prejudice and inequality still shape so much of American life. But watching the heightened activism of young people in recent weeks, of every race and every station, makes me hopeful. If, going forward, we can channel our justifiable anger into peaceful, sustained, and effective action, then this moment can be a real turning point in our nation’s long journey to live up to our highest ideals."