Mirsky: George Floyd Had a Right to Life

I have protested in favor of George Floyd’s Right to Life this past week in Exeter, New Hampshire. George Floyd had a Right to Life. George Floyd died while in police custody, on May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

You can’t view the actual circumstances of George Floyd’s death without being disturbed and overcome with the feeling that this death was wrong and should not have happened.

I have spoken at exactly one deliberative session here in Exeter during my many years as an Exeter resident, and that was to voice my support for the firefighters of Exeter, who saved my life when I endured a medical issue; that will have been four years ago this coming June 21. That deliberative session was the focus of an article in the Exeter News-Letter. I don’t think it was mentioned in that article, but as I stated at that deliberative session, the Exeter Police were also involved in saving my life.

Our police, like our firefighters, are first-responders, and they respond to every life-threatening crisis of which they are made aware. They are life-savers.

I have heard from other people who have demonstrated their support here in Exeter for George Floyd’s Right to Life, that members of the Exeter Police Department have stood beside the mostly young men and women who are speaking out for George Floyd.

And so, if you believe as I do that George Floyd should be alive today, you are not alone.

If you really want to do something positive in response to what happened to Mr. Floyd, you should advocate and organize, peacefully, to enforce the powerful laws that we already have in our most important legal document as Americans, the Constitution of the United States.

African American people have equal rights and freedom from slavery as stated in the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to Our Constitution.

Section 1 of the 13th Amendment states: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”

Section 1 of the 14th Amendment states, in pertinent part: “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges and immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

Section 1 of the 15th Amendment states: “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”

These Amendments to Our Constitution were passed after the Civil War, and are known as the Civil War Amendments.

Both the spirit and the actual language of these Amendments are crucial to preserving the United States as a free society, with individual rights, and the opportunity to prosper and live in peace.

Let’s work together, with our police and through our legal system, to enforce our laws and protect our society from future harm.

I have no doubt that the Exeter Police would have saved any person’s life under those circumstances, regardless of their racial or ethnic status.

Many African Americans and young people are doubting whether the police are on their side right now, because of what happened to George Floyd, and especially because our own president, Donald Trump, has expressed no genuine regard for the feelings of the family or community that lost George Floyd. Our president has expressed nothing but contempt for the well meaning supporters of George Floyd, and for those who wish to maintain a law-abiding society that conforms to the requirements of Our Constitution. It seems like Donald Trump has never even read the 13th, 14th or 15th Amendments, or any part of Our Constitution.

We as Americans expect something more from our Presidents.