It is 2020 and some might argue that within the topic of racial injustice, we, as a society, have progressed. Yes, slavery has been abolished, segregation is no longer legal, and everyone has the ability to vote. But have we moved forward?

Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Sandra Bland, George Floyd. These are only four of the multitude of innocent people who were oppressed and abused by the police. And what happened to them was purely because of their skin color. 

In every event of abuse against innocent black lives, the police officers involved acted outside of their authority and broke the vow they made regarding the protection of the community they serve for.

Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao, J Alexander Kueng. These are the names of the four police officers involved in the recent murder of George Floyd. All four of these officers must be imprisoned. Firing them is NOT enough. If anyone else had committed this atrocity, they would not be free. And if this was black on black violence, people would be behind bars. 

These police officers involved in George Floyd’s death, as well as any police officer that abuses their power in an adjacent way, must be incarcerated. It is time for a change. And this change starts here. These monsters belong in prison. So put them where they belong. The protests will not stop until the violence, abuse, and oppression stops. 

All lives will not matter until Black Lives Matter.