We must show the will to address problems Floyd killing exposed

One year ago, the life of George Floyd, a son, a father, a brother and a law-abiding United States citizen, was brutally ended by a now-convicted Minnesota police officer whose name is unworthy of mentioning.

The officer was a 20-year veteran responsible for training new officers of the police department, and yet, he illegally ended the life of a man who happened to be coming out of a store and had not been found guilty of any crime. As a result, thousands of citizens, including many in the Northwest suburbs, marched and spoke out, demanding justice and equality and speaking on the meaning of "Blacks Lives Matter," a phrase that clearly refers to the importance of all life, including African Americans and that all lives, including African Americans must be respected at the same level as white Americans.

Given the frequent killing of unarmed black citizens by police, I have often been asked why the murder of George Floyd resonated in the hearts and minds of so many Americans. My response is simple, "because of the cellphone camera and for the first time, we were allowed to sit in the first row of the execution chamber for more than nine long minutes as the life of George Floyd, unarmed and had not committed a crime was taken away, illegally, by a representative of the state, a sworn police officer"

As we remember the life of George Floyd, we must never forget the many young unarmed black and brown men and women to grieve, like Walter Scott, Tamira Rice, Freddie Gray and Sandra Bland, who left behind mothers, fathers, sons and children.

Let me quickly add that many of our communities are fortunate to have good and decent police officers, simply doing their job the best that they can. However, among this group are men and women who see some citizens, especially those with dark skin, as subhuman to be treated with less respect than white citizens.

As we remember George Floyd, we should be reminded that taxpayers are also shouldering a hefty cost for the lawlessness caused by some police officers. In 2019, bad police officers cost taxpayers of New York more than $220 million. In Chicago, taxpayers paid more than $100 million to lawyers and relatives of victims of police killings.

In remembering George Floyd, a number of questions remain unanswered: Why does the killing of unarmed African American men and women nearly always focus on police? Why are killings by the police the major cause of death of young black and brown citizens?

The answer appears to be that there is a belief among many citizens that had not the person killed been in violation of the law, their life would not have been taken. Hopefully, the killing of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and many others will open their eyes to this foolish and untrue belief.

In remembering the life of George Floyd, it must be understood that black people are three times more likely to be killed by police than white people. It is amazing that white men who commit mass murders, walk down streets with guns and walk into a church and kill nine black worshippers can be arrested without injury or death while an unarmed black person, not convicted of any crime, is shot and killed in their neighborhood or home.

To remember George Floyd is a recognition for the need of criminal justice reform that addresses racial profiling, police brutality, over policing of black communities, mass incarceration and recidivism. To remember George Floyd is to believe that no one, including police, is above the law and must be held accountable. Therefore, the George Floyd Policing Act, now pending in Congress which ends qualified immunity for bad cops must become law.

In remembering George Floyd, we must address the "over gunned" mentality in our nation, including finding answers to why armed police officers are needed in our hospitals and schools. If we are truly to remember George Floyd, we must cease to stereotype citizens on the basis of skin color and residence.

In communities where positive change in police to community relations is taking place. it has always been trauma that brought the change about. With the dramatic population shift that is occurring in the Northwest suburbs coupled with the near absence of diversity in most police departments, it may be only a matter of time before the racial challenges experienced in other towns, will knock on the door of our Northwest municipalities.

• The Rev. Clyde H. Brooks, of Arlington Heights, is chairman of the Illinois Commission on Diversity and Human Relations.