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Opinion | George Floyd protests: the twisted logic behind Hong Kong protesters’ support for Trump
- Some in Hong Kong have rallied around Donald Trump, whose call for military action against protesters in the US sparked outrage
- But if they want an independent investigation into Hong Kong police actions, protesters should really be showing solidarity with the US public
Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
In the United States, the death of George Floyd has sparked nationwide protests. Peaceful demonstrators have taken to the streets, fighting against police brutality and racism. The Covid-19 pandemic and widening wealth gap have awakened the US to a severe class struggle. Protests have broken out in at least 140 cities, and some people have been looting.
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America is clearly facing one of its biggest post-war sociopolitical crises, and this will have a huge impact on the upcoming presidential election.
With regard to police brutality, the US authorities have handled the death of Floyd in a proper manner. The white police officer who knelt on Floyd’s neck was immediately fired, then charged with third-degree murder. After an autopsy report confirmed the cause of Floyd’s death, the former officer is now being charged with second-degree murder.
Three other officers involved in the episode have also been charged and have had their bail set at US$750,000, which leaves them no choice but to stay in custody.
On the streets, some police officers have taken a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. However, the anger of the American people has yet to subside.
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Racism is a deep-seated problem in the US. Police brutality against black people is an everyday occurrence. The protests escalated when President Donald Trump threatened to mobilise the military to restore law and order. However, the defence secretary refused to comply; otherwise, the consequences could have been catastrophic.
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