Page 106 - COVID-19 and the Church_eBOOK_Color_07.16.2020_Neat

Numerous anti-police brutality protests broke
out across the United States, and later around the
world. Cities were set ablaze. Police stations were
stormed and destroyed. Police cars were burned, and
more people died.
Hundreds of Thousands of People Around the
World Came Out of Quarantine to Protest

With the Coronavirus as the backdrop, millions of
humans came out of quarantine to participate in the
global protests. Some wore protective masks, others did
not. And, many of the protesters who did wear masks,
some of them just had the masks hanging loosely around
their faces or necks.
Some practiced social-distancing, while many
were right up in one another’s faces. There was also
much physical contact between protesters. There was
also much close interaction between police officers
and protesters.

The battle cry around the world was, “This is
too important to allow the coronavirus to keep me in
quarantine!” People had pledged to themselves and to
their families that they would remain quarantined until
the COVID threat was over, or at least under control.

But, when an unarmed George Floyd was killed
by Minneapolis police officers, even some of the most
dedicated to the quarantine, came out to demonstrate,
and to showcase their own outrage.
With the initial stages of the protests behind us,
some are beginning to ask important questions like,
“Did we make a mistake in coming together with so
many strangers?” After all, any of them could have been
carrying the COVID.