Location: Zoom Date: Wednesday 3rd June Project: Bitcoin & Black America Role: Author
On May 25th George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin. Police were called over allegations that George Floyd had used a counterfeit $20 bill. During the arrest, Chauvin restrained Floyd by placing his knee on his neck and pinning him to the ground, during this time Floyd was pleading with the officer repeatedly stating "I can't breathe".Â
After 8 minutes and 46 seconds and with paramedics on the scene, Chauvin finally took his knee off Floyd's neck, he was unresponsive and later pronounced dead.
Following Floyd's death, there have been widespread protests across America which have now spread to other countries. In several places in the US, these protests have been violent with looting, fires and large scale destruction.
While the black community is reeling at yet another death at the hands of a police officer, Isaiah Jackson, the author of Bitcoin & Black America suggests that building a black economy offers a way out of institutionalised racism.
In this interview, we discuss the killing of George Floyd and the subsequent protests and riots, racism in the US, and how the black community can use Bitcoin.
