Racial Justice and Social Conflict

News Event and Relation to Social Conflict 

In 2020, protests around racial justice and police brutality emerged all over the US following the demise of George Floyd, a black man, at the hands of a white police officer. Video shared on social channels showed a white police officer kneeling on Floyd’s back and neck (Aratani, 2020). Floyd died in police custody, sparking protests across the country. Protesters clashed with law enforcement officers in various cities. Property destruction took place when the demonstrators set buildings on fire. Stores were also ransacked as the protestors engaged in looting. The largest demonstrations occurred in St. Paul and Minneapolis. 

The protests tie into the conflict theory, which emphasizes social factors are the primary causes of deviance and crime. The main social factor, in this case, is racial inequality which led to acts of crime and deviance among the demonstrators. Protesters engaged in criminal activities such as arson and theft to demand racial justice following the death of a black man as a result of the action of a white police officer (Aratani, 2020). They also demanded the end to racial injustice following the death of black individuals at the hand of white police officers. 

Source of Conflict and Purpose of Event 

The source of the conflict was a result of the high-profile killings of African Americans by white individuals. In February 2020, Ahmaud Arbery, a black man, was killed by two white individuals (Aratani, 2020). A month later, Breonna Taylor, another black individual, was killed in her bed at home by law enforcement officers. In May, the death of Floyd was the breaking point, given that its occurrence led to the biggest demonstrations all over the country. 

The protestors were trying to advocate for justice for Floyd through the arrest of the officer responsible for his death. They were also trying to lobby for both social change and systemic change to promote racial justice and discourage police brutality. 

Strength and Weaknesses 

A key strength of their position is associated with widespread support. The protesters were located in various cities across the US, including Denver, Minneapolis, Chicago, Oakland, St. Paul, Columbus, Los Angeles, and New York (Aratani, 2020). A large number of protesters created sufficient awareness regarding racial injustice and police brutality. US-based protesters received support from protesters in other countries such as Switzerland, England, Brazil, Italy, Spain, Scotland, Hong Kong, Netherlands, and Belgium as the news of Floyd's death spread globally. Another strength in their position is the presence of evidence showing the negative effects of police brutality. Video footage shared on social platforms showed a white police officer placing his knee on Floyd's neck. In the video, Floyd was heard saying that he could not breathe. The evidence created a strong case for change and justified the need for protests advocating for the arrest of the officer accountable for Floyd's death. A key weakness of their position is the presence of individuals with ulterior motives. Some of the protestors engaged in looting as they ransacked stores across cities in the North American Country. The protests created a suitable distraction for them to engage in criminal acts. The looters corrupted the protests by shedding light on outcomes not included among the desired outcomes. In this case, they reduced support for the protests, especially among store owners. 

Response 

The protesters received their desired response given the arrest of the police officer who knelt on Floyd's neck. Chauvin, the officer responsible, was taken into police custody on two charges, including second-degree manslaughter and third-degree murder (Homes, 2021). His trial began in March 2021, and, in this case, protesters are waiting to see whether he will be convicted. The officers who were with Chauvin were also arrested for abetting and aiding second-degree murder. The then-president made an Executive Order with regard to police reform. Former President Trump approved an order calling for increased professional standards and additional training on de-escalation methods and the use of force (Lemaire, 2020). The order also established co-respondent services requiring police officers and social workers to respond to nonviolent calls. 

Response from Conflict Theory Perspective 

The response was in line with what is expected from the perspective of conflict theory. According to the theory, society undergoes change that is driven by class conflict. In this sense, social change is likely to occur due to racial inequality. The call for social and system change to end racial injustice and police brutality resulted from the conflict between law enforcement and the public, especially black individuals. The decision by the president to approve the Executive Order on Police Reform was a way of implementing social change in response to the conflict between the police and black individuals. 

Goal Accomplishment 

From a conflict perspective, the protestors accomplished their goals. The conflict perspective emphasizes that social change is a product of conflict arising from social factors such as racial inequality. A key goal of the protestors was to end police brutality, including the use of excessive force. The protests prompted states to change various aspects of the police force, a key social institution. States scaled back on the force that police officers could use when dealing with civilians. For instance, California banned the use of tear gas and chokeholds by the police. Other states such as Texas and New York implemented similar measures to varying degrees. In this case, the protestors’ goals were accomplished. 

References 

Aratani, L. (2020).  George Floyd killing: what sparked the protests – and what has been the response? The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/29/george-floyd-killing-protests-police-brutality . 

Holmes, C. (2021).  Derek Chauvin trial begins in George Floyd murder case: 5 essential reads on police violence against Black men . The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/derek-chauvin-trial-begins-in-george-floyd-murder-case-5-essential-reads-on-police-violence-against-black-men-158093 . 

Lemaire, S. (2020).  How George Floyd's death has impacted American life . VOA. https://www.voanews.com/usa/race-america/how-george-floyds-death-has-impacted-american-life .