American Ideals are George Floyd’s Greatest Asset

American Ideals and the Constitution are George Floyd’s greatest asset. After George Floyd was killed on video and controversy and civil strife ensued stories began to circulate around social media about George Floyd’s past. But in the eyes of the law a person’s past doesn’t matter once they have served their time. The Constitution states that suspects are presumed innocent until they receive a trial by jury.

https://apnews.com/a55d2662f200ead0da4fed9e923b60a7

Presumed innocence and a trial by jury are rights granted to US Citizens. That’s what George Floyd has going for him. It’s not his strength of character which is questionable to put it mildly. That’s why I find it ironic that so many Black Americans try to disassociate themselves from their Black American identity. A lot of the men that have been victims in high profile police misconduct cases only have the rights granted to them by citizenship to fall back on. Because most of them have been less than model citizens.

If you disregard the Constitution and what America is supposed to stand for. If you disregard civility and the service that police are suppose to provide. If you disregard the Christianity that most Christians claim to observe. It can be said that George Floyd met up with karma.

He was found guilty of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. He and five other men broke into a pregnant woman’s home and held her at gunpoint. George Floyd served five years in prison for that crime. He also had brushes with the law involving drugs. And he had several children within relationships with different women.

However, if you believe in what this country is supposed to stand for then there is no valid argument to defend the police officers that killed George Floyd. Police officers are supposed to defend the Constitution. They are not henchmen or street executioners. Suspects are entitled to their day in court and a trial.

The rights given to American citizens by the Constitution are what the fight against police brutality is about. And Black Americans need to understand that Constitutional rights are what give all of us a defense. A case can be made against anyone’s character and righteousness is subjective.

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