1st LD Writethru: UN human rights chief says George Floyd's killing emblematic of excessive force against people of color

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, June 17, 2020
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GENEVA, June 17 (Xinhua) -- United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said on Wednesday that George Floyd's killing has become emblematic of the excessive use of disproportionate force by law enforcement against people of African descent, against people of color, against indigenous peoples and racial and ethnic minorities in countries across the globe.

"Since the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis last month, a wave of massive protests has surged forward, not only across every state in the United States but also in dozens of countries in Europe and all around the world," Bachelet said in an urgent debate on the "current racially inspired human rights violations, systematic racism, police brutality against people of African descent and violence against peaceful protests" of the 43rd Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council.

She said the protests are the culmination of many generations of pain and struggles for equality, "we owe it to those who have gone before, as well as those to come, to seize this moment to demand fundamental change."

"We need decisive action across the world, not only to reform or re-imagine institutions and law enforcement agencies, but to address pervasive racism that corrodes institutions, entrenches inequality and underlies so many violations of human rights," she said.

Floyd, a 46-year-old African American, died during an arrest for allegedly using a counterfeit bill in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25 after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Floyd was handcuffed and lying face down, begging for his life and repeatedly saying "I can't breathe." Videos from security cameras and made by witnesses later became public. Enditem

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