FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 1, 2020
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George Floyd Killing Was Murder, Not Racism
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Don Blankenship released the following statement on the George Floyd Killing
Our country has a long history of racial issues, but there is no video evidence that George Floyd was murdered because he was black and the officers were not black. Said differently, George may well have been murdered because he was black, but the video of the murder does not provide such evidence. The video is evidence of police brutality, of a failed police action, of cruelty, and of a murder, but the video is not by itself evidence of racism.
It was critically important that the Minneapolis police treat the video as what it appears to be—clear evidence of a murder. Regrettably, they did not and still have not done so. Their delay in doing so has caused them to appear biased and arguably racist. Why else would they not treat an apparent murder involving multiple persons as a murder?
A murder charge should have been immediately brought against the officer who choked George. Also, whatever charges were or are appropriate against the other participants in the murder should have been brought as quickly as possible.
In short, the evidence on the video is clear evidence of a murder, and it should be further investigated as a murder case. The delay in bringing charges against the participants in the apparent murder should also be investigated as possible racism. If racism was a factor in the delay and/or in the murder itself, then appropriate corrective and disciplinary actions should be taken against those involved.
The participants in the subsequent “protests,” if peaceful and lawful, should be treated under the law as peaceful and lawful protesters. The participants in the “riots,” if stealing and damaging property, should be treated under the law as participants in theft and vandalism.
The point is that murder is murder and racism is racism. Protests are protests and riots are riots. They are entirely different things. Racism can be motivation for murder and for protests alike. But there is no evidence yet that the murder of George Floyd was motivated by racism. Regardless, racism cannot be a justification for riots.
The equal and timely application of the rule of law are the keys to preventing civil unrest. The Constitution guarantees all of us equal protection under the law. When a man is murdered, the first order of business is to arrest those responsible for the murder and to charge them immediately and properly. Doing so in the case of George Floyd would have demonstrated that Minneapolis officials are not racists, but they failed to do that. It is a lesson of which all police departments in America need to take notice.
The most important thing at this point is not why the officers caused George Floyd to die, but rather to treat and charge them just like anyone else would be treated and charged. If Minneapolis officials do that, then the rule of law will be protected, which is what a civil society depends on.
Don Blankenship
Constitution Party Candidate for President
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