To honour George Floyd, dismantle the system that killed him

The brutal lynching of George Floyd should have presented a turning point in the United States. 

The manner in which Floyd was coldly murdered by police officer Derek Chauvin horrified millions of people around the world sparking solidarity protests. It reignited focus on the epidemic of anti-Black racism in the United States, particularly within policing. 

Those protests centred on demands for systemic change. People sympathised with Black Americans and appealed to the President and the federal government to lead on police reform, and to even defund the police

Three years on, however, it’s abundantly clear that nothing has changed under President Biden’s tenure. Enough time has passed, and now the responsibility falls squarely and directly at Biden’s feet.

"There’s been no great political push, no wave of continued impassioned speeches from the White House imploring both political parties to back police reform. No day-one executive orders. Nothing offered of any substance"

Why? Because the President could have done more, but hasn’t, despite prioritising a number of executive orders for other groups from literally his first day in office. Black Americans, who propelled Biden into the most powerful political position in the world, have barely been an afterthought for the President.

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which was touted by Democrats as landmark, has stalled completely. Many would argue that, in any case, the bill is largely symbolic and doesn’t go far enough.

Critics might suggest that adding Floyd’s name to the bill, which has clearly fallen off the President’s to-do list, was little more than a stunt for political optics. A scathing cynic might say that Biden inviting Floyd’s family to the White House, without denting the conditions that produced Floyd’s murder, was little more than cold calculated theatrics.

Regardless, in more than 3 years, Biden has not used his influence to get it done.

George Floyd killing: The US can run, but it can't hide from its long legacy of racist police brutality

✍ @richardsudan https://t.co/aE3DDF1k8u

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) March 25, 2022

There’s been no great political push, no wave of continued impassioned speeches from the White House imploring both political parties to back police reform. No day-one executive orders. Nothing offered of any substance. I can’t even remember when the White House last mentioned the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

It is true that the anti-lynching bill, despite being about 200 years too late, did indeed become law during Biden’s presidency. But it has done about as much for Black Americans as the failed George Floyd bill.

Jordan Neely, a homeless Black man, was just lynched on a train earlier this month. Not only is his killer not facing lynching charges, he is not even facing murder charges. He’s facing 2nd degree manslaughter.

What good are laws if they are not enforced?

This ‘slap on the wrist’ response is a clear green light to white supremacists all over the country. It reinforces and endorses white vigilante violence rather than punishing it. Enact your racist fantasies, goes the message, and you’ll be described as a hero, or a “good Samaritan” as the National Police Association put it. You might even raise a million dollars within a week via a Go Fund Me campaign.

Not all of this is Biden’s fault, but the fact he won’t even condemn these acts speaks volumes. This is the legacy of Biden’s America. Black lives never mattered to President Biden, beyond Black voters backing him, and they don’t matter to him now.

His lack of action fits with his track record of racist slander directed at Black people, his willingness to work with racist segregationists in the past, and his authoring of the 94 crime bill which sent thousands of Black people to prison.

Like his liberal counterparts in the UK, Biden has consistently left Black people behind, taking for granted that he can count on their support at the ballot box, and even telling them they are not Black if they don’t vote for him. But taking Black voters for a ride without losing Black voters’ support will not last forever. 

"The United States must mark the death of George Floyd with the President offering more than flowery words and posing for photos with Black people in the White House"

Both the US and the UK are nations built from the blood, sweat, tears and the forced labour of Black people. Neither country however, has yet to atone and make amends for their original sins. At some point, politically speaking at least, as Malcolm X put it, chickens will come home to roost.

It begs the question: is the special relationship between the two nations honestly and sincerely predicated on grand ideals of liberty and freedom, or is it in reality based on something else?

Both nations have deep histories of conquest and colonialism greased by racism and arguably ethno-genocide. Until these histories are accounted for and reconciled, whatever grand virtues and values are espoused by both democracies remain little more than ideals and fantasies. 

The United States must mark the death of George Floyd with the President offering more than flowery words and posing for photos with Black people in the White House. 

Empty gestures, tokenism, and insincerity will not cut it for the new generation, unchained by the stale political model of 20th century politics. They are no longer begging for a seat at the table of privilege. They built the table, and can also dismantle it, if they choose. Black voters have always held the key to election outcomes.

The President must commit to meaningful change regarding tackling anti-racism as a priority. He must make good on his promise to have the backs of Black Americans if he is to secure a second term in office, and if that second term is truly going to mean anything to the people that matter but are consistently left behind.

Richard Sudan is a journalist and writer specialising in anti-racism and has reported on various human rights issues from around the world. His writing has been published by The Guardian, Independent, The Voice and many others.

Follow him on Twitter: @richardsudan

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Opinions expressed in this article remain those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The New Arab, its editorial board or staff.