Kematian George Floyd memicu Dewan Kota Minneapolis merombak sistem kepolisian
Sumber gambar, Getty Images
Mayoritas Dewan Kota Minneapolis, Amerika Serikat, berjanji merombak departemen kepolisian setempat, sebuah langkah penting di tengah protes nasional yang dipicu kematian George Floyd bulan lalu.
Sembilan dari 13 anggota dewan mengatakan "konsep baru tentang keselamatan publik" akan digodok di sebuah kota yang para penegak hukumnya dituduh melakukan aksi rasisme.
Walikota Minneapolis, Jacob Frey sebelumnya menentang langkah itu, sehingga sempat menuai cemoohan.
Para aktivis, yang selama bertahun-tahun mengampanyekan langkah semacam itu, menyebutnya sebagai sebuah titik balik.
Namun demikian, sejumlah pihak menganggap langkah ini bakal menjadi perdebatan panjang dan rumit.
Sebelumnya, kematian Floyd di tangan polisi telah memicu gelombang protes anti-rasisme yang berlangsung hingga sekarang di sejumlah negara.
Pemakaman Floyd dijadwalkan pada hari Selasa (9/6) di Houston, kota kelahirannya sebelum dia pindah ke Minneapolis.
Unjuk rasa berawal setelah muncul video yang menayangkan warga Amerika berkulit hitam berusia 46 tahun itu dijepit lehernya di aspal, seorang polisi kulit putih menekan lehernya dengan lutut selama hampir sembilan menit.
Derek Chauvin sudah dipecat dan didakwa dengan pasal pembunuhan. Tiga petugas polisi lainnya yang berada di tempat kejadian juga telah dipecat dan didakwa membantu dan bersekongkol.
Apa pernyataan anggota Dewan Kota Minneapolis?
Sembilan anggota dewan membacakan pernyataan di hadapan ratusan pengunjuk rasa pada hari Minggu (7/6).
Sumber gambar, Getty Images
"... Jelas bahwa sistem kepolisian dan keamanan publik kami saat ini tidak menjaga keamanan komunitas kami," kata Presiden Dewan Kota, Lisa Bender. "Berbagai upaya yang kami lakukan telah gagal."
Bender mengatakan rencana rinci untuk membenahi departemen kepolisian akan dibicarakan lebih lanjut, seraya menambahkan bahwa dia akan mencoba mengalihkan anggaran polisi kepada kebijakan startegis berbasis masyarakat.
Sementara itu, anggota dewan Alondra Cano mencuit dalam Twitternya bahwa "mayoritas anggota dewan sepakat bahwa departemen kepolisian di kota itu "tidak dapat direformasi dan bahwa mereka akan menyudahi sistem kepolisian saat ini".
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Pekan lalu, Minnesota meluncurkan penyelidikan hak-hak sipil terhadap Departemen Kepolisian Minneapolis, dan Gubernur Tim Walz mengatakan dia ingin membasmi "rasisme sistemik".
Dewan kota kemudian memberikan suara untuk dilakukan beberapa perubahan di tubuh kepolisian, termasuk larangan aparat polisi menindih dan menekan leher tersangka.
Bagaimana reaksi atas sikap Dewan Kota?
Rencana reformasi di Minneapolis tentang cara penindakan aparat kepolisian ini kemungkinan akan menjadi perdebatan panjang dan rumit.
Sumber gambar, AFP
Namun proses menyiapkan sistem baru barangkali akan memakan waktu berbulan-bulan, dan tidak ada jaminan terlaksana karena ada perlawananan kubu yang menolaknya.
Menanggapi pengumuman itu, Kandace Montgomery, pimpinan Black Vision, kelompok yang mengampanyekan anti-rasisme di Minnesota, mengatakan:
"Seharusnya tidak perlu sampai banyak korban meninggal untuk membawa kita ke sini. Kami lebih aman tanpa patroli bersenjata yang didukung negara yang memburu warga kulit hitam. "
Pada hari Senin, Fraksi Partai Demokrat di Kongres direncanakan akan mengajukam undang-undang tentang reformasi kepolisian.
Apa yang terjadi di tempat lainnya?
Walikota New York, Bill de Blasio, mengatakan akan mengalihkan dana dari kepolisian kota ke berbagai layanan sosial.
Sumber gambar, MINNEAPOLIS POLICE
"Defund the police" atau seruan menghentikan aliran dana terhadap institusi kepolisian diteriakkan dalam berbagai unjuk rasa baru-baru ini, yang terkadang pecah menjadi kekerasan dan penjarahan.
Para pendukung "defunding" selama bertahun-tahun telah mengutuk apa yang mereka sebut sebagai kepolisian militer yang agresif di AS.
Mereka berpendapat bahwa anggaran departemen kepolisian harus dipotong dan dana dialihkan ke program sosial untuk menghindari konfrontasi yang tidak perlu dan memulihkan kesenjangan rasial.
US protests timeline
George Floyd dies after police arrest
George Floyd dies after being arrested by police outside a shop in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Footage shows a white officer, Derek Chauvin, kneeling on Mr Floyd’s neck for several minutes while he is pinned to the floor. Mr Floyd is heard repeatedly saying "I can’t breathe". He is pronounced dead later in hospital.
Protests begin
Four officers involved in the arrest of George Floyd are fired. Protests begin as the video of the arrest is shared widely on social media. Hundreds of demonstrators take to the streets of Minneapolis and vandalise police cars and the police station with graffiti.
Protests spread
Protests spread to other cities including Memphis and Los Angeles. In some places, like Portland, Oregon, protesters lie in the road, chanting "I can’t breathe". Demonstrators again gather around the police station in Minneapolis where the officers involved in George Floyd’s arrest were based and set fire to it. The building is evacuated and police retreat.
Trump tweets
President Trump blames the violence on a lack of leadership in Minneapolis and threatens to send in the National Guard in a tweet. He follows it up in a second tweet with a warning "when the looting starts, the shooting starts". The second tweet is hidden by Twitter for "glorifying violence".
CNN reporter arrested
A CNN reporter, Omar Jimenez, is arrested while covering the Minneapolis protest. Mr Jimenez was reporting live when police officers handcuffed him. A few minutes later several of his colleagues are also arrested. They are all later released once they are confirmed to be members of the media.
Derek Chauvin charged with murder
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, 44, is charged with murder and manslaughter. The charges carry a combined maximum 35-year sentence.
Sixth night of protests
Violence spreads across the US on the sixth night of protests. A total of at least five people are reported killed in protests from Indianapolis to Chicago. More than 75 cities have seen protests. At least 4,400 people have been arrested. Curfews are imposed across the US to try to stem the unrest.
Trump threatens military response
President Trump threatens to send in the military to quell growing civil unrest. He says if cities and states fail to control the protests and "defend their residents" he will deploy the army and "quickly solve the problem for them". Mr Trump poses in front of a damaged church shortly after police used tear gas to disperse peaceful protesters nearby.
Eighth night of protests
Tens of thousands of protesters again take to the streets. One of the biggest protests is in George Floyd’s hometown of Houston, Texas. Many defy curfews in several cities, but the demonstrations are largely peaceful.
Memorial service for George Floyd
A memorial service for George Floyd is held in Minneapolis. Those gathered in tribute stand in silence for eight minutes, 46 seconds, the amount of time Mr Floyd is alleged to have been on the ground under arrest. Hundreds attended the service, which heard a eulogy from civil rights activist Rev Al Sharpton.
International protests
As the US saw another weekend of protests, with tens of thousands marching in Washington DC, anti-racism demonstrations were held around the world.
In Australia, there were major protests in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane that focused on the treatment of indigenous Australians. There were also demonstrations in France, Germany, Spain and the UK. In Bristol, protesters tore down the statue of a 17th century slave trader and threw it into the harbour.
Funeral service for George Floyd
A funeral service for George Floyd is held in Houston, Mr Floyd’s home town. Just over two weeks after his death in Minneapolis and worldwide anti-racism protests, about 500 guests invited by the Floyd family are in attendance at the Fountain of Praise Church. Many more gather outside to show their support.
