Lives and institutions that matter

THE filmed killing of George Floyd, an African American man, by a white police officer in Minneapolis, ostensibly because of the former’s alleged attempted use of a counterfeit note, has ignited protests across the United States, as well as physical and digital displays of solidarity worldwide.

The range of views about the initial incident and subsequent protests has been predictably wide, as blame is apportioned and ascribed for diverse social and political reasons; the role of social media campaigns being critiqued; the effect on US soft power rapidly being seen; and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic adding another layer of concerns and interests.