Community members reflect 5 years later about the death of George Floyd

Raleigh, NC (WTVD) – Sunday has been marked for five years since George Floyd's death, a black man from Fayetteville, a black man who was killed by a white police officer from Minneapolis, who knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes.

The officer Derek Chauvin was released and charged with murder.

Floyd's death triggered a global movement that led to nationwide protests against the brutality of the police and demanded reforms.

Lauren Johnson from ABC11 spoke to Community members in the triangle about the movement and about how she still affects people five years later.

Dr. Ariel Seay-Euard is a professor at North Carolina State University, where her work is reminiscent of racist violence. She reflected on the day the video of the arrest was published.

“I remember when I only felt the video shocked for the first time, felt pain, felt hurt, confusion,” said Seay-Ehard.

Seay-Eh-Showard Student Nickey Ferrante was just as confused.

“I think this video would not have been recorded in the end, I think many people in America may still have an ignorant attitude in relation to the problems within the police system,” said Ferrante.

The retired police chief of Raleigh, Estella Patterson, also reflected on the civil servants' actions on that day.

“I think it was incredible to see something like that before our eyes,” said Patterson.

The moment became a worldwide movement. Floyd's last words “I can't breathe” were captured in front of the camera and sent the world into racist billing.

“There is a new perspective on you if you know that we all run a different life step and not everyone has the same experience,” said Ferrante.

Ferrante, who is now in college, was 17 years old in 2020. He said he was deeply grateful for the classes he took in the NC State that Dr. Seay-show was taught.

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A lesson that she shares with the students. “Unfortunately, we always had that black people were not killed by black people.”

In this case, George Floyd died under the knee of the former police officer of Minneapolis Derek Chauvin.

“It reveals everything in the law enforcement agencies on how we humans limit, how they treat humans, the obvious abuse of violence,” said Patterson about the video.

A force that changed the sheet in our country in conversations.

“I think white people in our country have to hear more than anyone else to be honest when it comes to the brutality of the police,” said Ferrante.

Companies postponed their attitude five years later.

“When it became dei, I saw it as a trend that, when we think about trends, always stop at some point,” said Seay-Ehard.

ABC11 asked Patterson how far we came five years later when it comes to police work in America.

“I have to say, I think we made great progress,” she said.

Patterson believes that justice was served in the case and that law enforcement has changed the course for the better.

“We are making progress in the right direction, I don't know how far it will continue,” she said.

Uncertainty is also a problem for Seay Howard.

“At least we have to come to talks openly and I don't know if we are still there,” she said.

But Seay-Ehard does her part and teaches students who otherwise never know the truth. Ferrante knows best and says Seay-Ehard takes care of raising her students and making the world a better place.