LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Adrian Wallace, vice-president of the NAACP’s Lexington-Fayette chapter, said he refuses to watch the video showing how 46-year-old George Floyd died because he’s tired of watching black men die needlessly at the hands of officers.
“I'm tired of it. I have not watched a video of George Floyd because I don't want to see it. I don't need to see it. And sadly, I'm not surprised,” said Wallace.
The video taken by a bystander shows a white officer pinning Floyd to the ground with his knee to Floyd’s neck. Floyd was unarmed and handcuffed. Floyd is heard in the video pleading multiple times to the officer that he can’t breathe.
“A black man gets a knee to his neck and it's only because it was on video that anything has happened, our justice system needs revamping,” said Wallace. “Thank God for technology.”
The four officers involved have been fired from the Minneapolis Police Department. However, Wallace said he believes real change can only come through policy reform that leads to systemic change.
“I believe that those things will create change. but when folks know that they can murder people--black lives--and not be held accountable, that's the reason why this continues,” said Wallace.
Wallace stressed the importance of getting involved in organizations that promote improving the community for everyone in it.
“Don’t stop fighting for justice,” is the message Wallace wants to send to Floyd’s family and to anyone looking to get involved. “It might take that one thing to finally wake you up or to say I've had enough. And as I say it’s never too late.”
