When I saw the video from the incident discussed in this article, I thought about how nobody went to her assistance but I figured, it’s New York. That might explain it, but it doesn’t excuse it. Those men inside actively ignored the scene by closing the door! I then thought about how I would have reacted. I’m sure I wouldn’t have physically intervened but I certainly would have called 911 and NOT closed the door.
This article gives some good tips on what to do if you witness an incident. As it points out, putting yourself in the middle can be dangerous and there are several things you can do to be of help. Things that we should all familiarize ourselves in the current heightened anexiety of racial tension.
At the same time, I was watching the Chauvin trial coverage and saw all the people who watched George Floyd being murdered. The difference there was that it was the police doing the violence and what should you do then? They did the best the could and performed many of the actions mentioned in the article. This was a very different situation where the police were the instigators and there definitely would have been personal danger to intercede. They were killing a handcuffed man. What would they do to an unrestrained person? Some of them videoed, at least one offered medical assistance, and one actually called 911 to report the incident. Imagine having to call the police ON the police.
This is a very different world that we live in today than even 10 years ago. There has always been racial hate and police abuse of power, but it is out in the open now and being made part of the public record by people with the wherewithal to record what they witness. Maybe they’re just stupid, but what does it say about the perpetrators if they are still committing these atrocities knowing they may be recorded? We all have to be vigilant. Read this article and learn how to respond in a responsible way.
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