10/06/2021

PODCAST – Can We Breathe Now?: ‘We have serial killer cops’

Derek Chauvin, the ex-police officer who knelt on George Floyd’s neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds was convicted on all three charges. This guilty verdict was rare since many police brutality cases in the United States of America do not make it to trial. 

A year ago, on May 25 of 2020, George Perry Floyd Jr. was killed by police. His death reignited the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States and all across the world. People took to the streets and started protesting against police brutality and advocating for change.

21-bis reporter Lien Thys talked to four black, American women about racial injustice, police brutality and systemic racism.

In this podcast, we will dig deeper into what the Chauvin verdict means to people and why Black Lives Matter is as important as ever.

 

College student Anna DuSaire (21) found her strength in spreading awareness and continues to be anti-racist. ‘Any of the people that were killed could have been me, my dad or my brother.’ ©Brandon Bell

 

Sehmar Solomon(17) was outside the courthouse when the Chauvin verdict was read. ‘That day was probably one of the best days I’ve had in a while. It gave me a breath and it showed us why we fight, why we protest.’ ©Drew Arrieta

This podcast was created as part of Lien Thys’ bachelor’s thesis.

Text and podcast: ©Lien Thys, music: Creative Minds by Bensound, Nostalgia – GoSoundtrack, archive material: BBC News, NBC News, NowThis News, Reuters, illustration: ©Fien Van Brandt