Barack Obama Issues a Call to Action in the Aftermath of George Floyd's Death

From Town & Country

• On Friday, Barack Obama took to social media to weigh in on the recent death of George Floyd, calling for a thorough investigation, adding that "this shouldn't be 'normal' in 2020 America."

• The 44th President's statement comes in the wake of mass protests in Minnesota, as well as wide-spread condemnation online of the officer-involved death of an unarmed black man.

• On Monday, Obama penned a longer Medium post to share his thoughts on how activists can use this moment as a turning point to bring about lasting change.

Former President Barack Obama has issued a rare statement regarding the death of George Floyd in Minnesota, saying he shares the anguish of millions of Americans, calling for a thorough investigation, and sharing ways in which activists can turn this moment of mass protests into lasting change.

"I want to share parts of the conversations I've had with friends over the past couple days about the footage of George Floyd dying face down on the street under the knee of a police officer in Minnesota," began the statement from the 44th president, which proceeded to share the following anecdote from a middle-aged African American businessman. "'I cried when I saw that video. It broke me down. The 'knee on the neck' is a metaphor for how the system so cavalierly holds black folks down, ignoring the cries for help.'"

Obama noted that he understood the desire for many Americans to return to "normal," particularly given the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting economic difficulties, but urged people to consider what is "normal" for many black Americans.

"We have to remember that for millions of Americans, being treated different on account of race is tragically, painfully, maddeningly 'normal'—whether it's while dealing with the health care system, or interacting with the criminal justice system, or jogging down the street, or just watching birds in a park," Obama said, touching on an additional recent racially-charged incident involving a white woman calling the police on a black bird-watcher in Central Park.

The former president added: "This shouldn't be 'normal' in 2020 America. It can't be 'normal.' If we want our children to grow up in a nation that lives up to its highest ideals, we can and must be better."

Obama concluded his statement with a note on how to move forward.

"It will fall mainly on the officials of Minnesota to ensure that the circumstances surrounding George Floyd's death are investigated thoroughly and that the justice is ultimate done," he wrote. "But it falls on all of us, regardless of our race our station—including he majority of men and women in law enforcement who take pride in doing their tough job the right way, every day—to work together to create a 'new normal' in which the legacy of bigotry and unequal treatment no longer infects our institutions or our hearts."

The 44th President later shared his thoughts and advice on how Americans can use this moment as a turning point for bringing about "real change."

"Ultimately, it’s going to be up to a new generation of activists to shape strategies that best fit the times," Obama began his over 900-word essay on Medium. "But I believe there are some basic lessons to draw from past efforts that are worth remembering."

He shared two main points.

First, while acknowledging the "legitimate frustration" that has led millions of Americans taking to the streets to protest, he noted that violence is not the answer, writing: "If we want our criminal justice system, and American society at large, to operate on a higher ethical code, then we have to model that code ourselves."

Secondly, he addressed the rhetoric around the idea that only protest—rather than voting—can bring out the change many want to see. Noting that progress comes about in a democracy when people vote for elected officials who are responsive to the change they seek, Obama specifically advocated for attention on elections at all levels—not just federal: "The elected officials who matter most in reforming police departments and the criminal justice system work at the state and local levels." He added: "The choice isn’t between protest and politics. We have to do both."

To help activists looking to create meaningful change in this moment in time, Obama also took the time to share several resources including a report and tool kit from the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, as well as a website curated by the Obama Foundation that lists ways to contribute and help during this time.

Despite the heavy nature of the subject matter, Obama ended his thoughts on a forward-looking note. "Watching the heightened activism of young people in recent weeks, of every race and every station, makes me hopeful," he concluded. "If, going forward, we can channel our justifiable anger into peaceful, sustained, and effective action, then this moment can be a real turning point in our nation’s long journey to live up to our highest ideals."

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