Protests over the death of George Floyd, a Minneapolis man killed by a Minneapolis police officer, are spreading throughout the country, including right here in Omaha.
Protest organizers in Omaha want the community to stand up and speak out against injustice. About 50 people gathered outside of Omaha’s Northeast Police Precinct to protest the death of George Floyd.
Anthony Baker organized the protest, and tells 6 News that he believes it's time that African American men stand up and become active in their community. “I feel that the black man has been marginalized and part of that problem is we as black men have not spoken out. It's easy out of sight out of mind. So if we’re not visible, if we’re not speaking out, if we’re not participating, if we're not involved, if we're not engaged, it’s very easy for people to look past us, to look over us."
Retired police officer Tariq Al Amin was on the Omaha force for 25 years. He tells 6 News that he believes police need better training and one of the officers watching Floyd beg for his life, should have stepped in. “I also felt more should have been done by the officers that are around him to check him. To check the officers who had his knee on him to say 'okay that’s enough let’s get him and get out of here.'”
Protestors here in Omaha say these type of incidents usually play themselves out with a certain formula, Baker says they heard it all before. “We will not be detoured, persuaded, or influenced by any attempts to discredit him, his family in an effort to justify his murder."
All of the Minneapolis Police officers involved in the incident have been fired.
The Omaha Police Department leadership responded to Floyd’s death through a statement on Wednesday. Part of it reads, “The officers’ actions are not consistent with the training and protocol of our profession. We commend Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo for his decisive actions and leadership.”
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office also responded to Floyd's death on Thursday saying in part, "The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) is deeply saddened and disturbed by the events that led to the death of Mr. George Floyd in Minneapolis. Based on the information known to date, the conduct by the officers involved showed a total disregard for life and basic human dignity. The actions of the officers were inconsistent with the best practices of a professional law enforcement officer."
(Photo courtesy of 6 News)