Captivating Power of Aggression

Five years ago, the world witnessed the tragic death of George Floyd, who was killed by a police officer's knee pressing into his neck for an agonizing nine minutes and 29 seconds. Had it not been for the courageous act of a bystander capturing the incident on video, this chilling occurrence may have faded amid the 1,159 police-related deaths recorded in 2020. Drawing from my experience as a former federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C., I have grappled with the complexities of law enforcement and its systemic faults. This personal journey strengthened my belief in the possibility of reform, even as persistent racial inequities posed daunting challenges. The extraordinary protests of 2020 ignited essential police reforms and commitments of nearly $50 billion toward racial equity. Nonetheless, recent governmental measures jeopardize community-driven violence prevention efforts. Now, advocacy to protect Black lives is more critical than ever.