By: Animesh, Connor, and Ondrea prefaceThe following blog is a representation of our own understanding, as Asian American students in Iowa, of Asian involvement in the George Floyd protests and Black Lives Matter Movement. The views and opinions expressed in this blog by no means capture those of all Asian-Americans. Moreover, we do not intend to discount the amazing work of Asian American activists who are making a difference. Rather, we hope to educate those who have chosen so far to remain indifferent and silent. Introduction: On May 25, 2020, George Floyd died shortly after being violently pinned to the ground by a Minneapolis police officer. His death sent shockwaves throughout the nation, inspiring communities globally to speak, rally, and protest against the violence Floyd and the Black community have faced. Eventually, we came to learn that Tou Thao, an Asian American police officer, remained a bystander to his fellow officer’s brutal treatment towards Floyd. For many, this discovery came as a shock, a surprise that one of our own had allowed such an atrocity to take place. Although Asian American’s being involved with police violence is certainly not new, Peter Liang and Akai Gurley come to mind, the graphic nature of Floyd’s recorded death brought back this issue to the fore. After reexamining our own communities, we believe that Thao’s decision to remain a bystander is almost symbolic of the apathy many Asian Americans feel towards the Black Lives Matter movement. In the days following Floyd’s death, civil uprisings took place all across the country. It seemed as if everyone had something to add to the growing conversation against racial injustice. Yet, in our lives, there was a disproportionately smaller Asian presence in these conversations, especially among adults. This realization led us to reexamine our own communities in hopes of understanding why many Asian members simply don’t engage in similar movements.
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Year ARchive
February 2023
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