What's Going On?

In the TV/Radio Room on the 3rd floor of Ditmas JHS, there is a picture of Marvin Gaye above the recording board.

This year, the room was used to record podcasts by the 7th and 8th graders. Many students have had the chance to express their feelings and thoughts in this room. These podcast have been personal, political, funny and informative.

Some students have seen this picture and never understood the significance of it. If you feel compelled, Research life in the 1960's. How can it be compared to "today's" events?

Below are pictures of Ditmas students expressing their right to express thoughts during the school year. More importantly, we have posted Ditmas Student's feelings and expressions of life as we enter June 2020.

I have left the quotes anonymous. I want the words to be judged by the thoughts.

Classes 650, 660, 670, 680, 690, 750 and 770 Reflect on the past week of May/June 2020

The opinion I am stating is about what happened to George Floyd, R.I.P. Honestly, this is truly disgusting, America is a free country and things like this shouldn’t be happening. Some people are saying that George Floyd was having a heart attack which makes the situation even worse if that’s the case!

If he was having a heart attack why would Derek Chauvin (the police officer that took Floyd’s life) put his knee on Floyd’s neck?

The good news is that he is charged. The bad news is that his murder was a “third degree murder”! What?! That’s crazy! Third degree murder means the murder was on accident and etc. If you saw the video, this makes no sense! He should’ve gotten first degree murder. Secondly, the riots and protests. I would say that people have the right to be doing what they are doing, and I’m totally with the protesters.

But for the people who are looting, I feel that they are taking huge advantage of this situation. That is my opinion on what is going on in the world right now.

#ICan’tBreathe that’s all I’m going to say.

About the protests for police brutality. People are going out of hand and doing way too much. The burning and stealing is unnecessary.

A lot of disaster and protest.

A man named George Floyd an innocent man suffered from pain because Some awful officers were racist and decided to kill him.

We should not let cops be cops if they cant do there jobs correctly

This past week has been horrible just like the rest of the year.

In my standpoint, I presume that during this past week it was actually pretty great time for me. It was great because now in the news they said that they are going to open peoples jobs on June 8th 2020.

But they said they are not going to open the schools yet. When my dad told me about this from the news I was so excited, still I was a little scared as well since we haven't found a cure to this virus yet.

I feel like everything that is happening right now is just overall crazy.

In my opinion, I think the protests are important because the message that they are portraying is very powerful, and key for the type of world we live in.

Moreover, they are helping other victims get the voice they deserve. However, when these protests get violent and harmful, that’s when they don’t count as “live-saving.” And I could never imagine George Floyd wanting people getting justice they way they are. He was a kind human, who would want the protests to be peaceful. Either way though, Black Lives Will Always Matter! 🖤#JusticeForGeorgeFloyd

My thoughts about last week was that last week was chaotic than I thought it would be.

First of all, we had dangerous protests that fired buildings and I couldn't go to sleep on Saturday because of the helicopter sounds. Second of all, I didn't realized the amount of cases we have to when I saw it on the news we were on 6 million cases and I was just surprised. Now we have to worry about two things: Protests and the Covid-19 pandemic.

One of my thoughts is that scientists said that the vaccine for COVID-19 was almost good to go but after a week they did not say anything about the vaccine.

I am catching up with my grades.

What that cop did was so bad and people should outraged, but these riots are not the answers.

Multiple viruses are occurring right now. COVID-19, racism, PrideFall (LGBTQIAP+ harassment).

My opinion on COVID-19 is that I'm happy New York is opening next week, that we've finally beat the virus. My opinion on racism is that black lives matter just as much as everyone else.

My opinion on PrideFall is that I'm really scared. This is rumored every year but could happen and apparently already started. Someone got rocks thrown at their window. Two friends got attacked. Just like COVID-19, we will beat racism and PrideFall 2020.

A thought that I have right now is that some people are treating blacks different, a bad different. We are all equal and no one should feel like this. Lots of blacks got murdered by policemen even though they are suppose to protect not hurt.

BLACK LIVES MATTER!

I think people should stop protesting so violently.

I think this because everyone has right to say what they think. However these people are taking advantage and stealing from store, hitting the police, etc.

If George Floyd was alive, he wouldn't want the violence that is happening.

Peaceful protests, yea, but this violence no. I also am not fully blaming cops for the violence.

It's no their faults. Their boss is the one telling them what to do, maybe if they don't they would get fired. Their just trying to do what every other human being/living organism are trying to do. Survive. I am not saying that I don't blame that at all.

I am really frustrated about what happened to George Floyd and I am just aggravated people still have to fight for the same thing but it is still happening over and over.

During the past week there has been protests for George Floyd who was a black man that was murdered by a white officer for doing absolutely nothing.

We hope that justice is served by the end of these protests for George Floyd, his family, and other black Americans who were forced to suffer the pain for the comfort of the white.

Corona virus situation will get better.

Yes,Last week was crazy because a cop killed George Floyd.

Protest

I'm very upset because their life is now unfair and it doesn't matter what your skin color is because we are all people. Police officers used their guns last night to scare the people who were protesting away.

Also one time there was a row of white people and the blacks were behind them because they were better off safe from the guns of the police behind the color of themselves. I think what happened to George Floyd is horrible.

The police officer also LIED about George Floyd resisting when it was obvious in the camera that he wasn't. Then when he said he couldn't breathe, the police officer kept his knee there to "stop him from going anywhere". Next thing you know it, George Floyd was out of oxygen. I found this unfair because the police officer killed him because of the color of his skin. This happened to many other people and none of the police officers were blamed or fired. Now the police officer was fired from his job.

I was told from my mom that people in Washington were peacefully protesting and Trump dropped tear gases on them even though they were just holding up signs, they weren't stealing from stores or burning cars down, they just had their signs and Trump decided to tear gas them.

This makes me furious because they weren't doing anything except for holding up their signs. Overall, I have been very upset during the past week's events.

I was thinking about why people care so much of the protests that they forgot that there was a pandemic going on. They may make the cases of the virus go up.

This pandemic is really scary.

Well NYC hospitals have ran out of ICU beds, so it makes it even worse to test positive for COVID 19.

To start with I would want to talk about George Floyd's death.

I my opinion I think that everyone who was involved with George Floyd's death should be getting arrested. It's not fair how people are treating colored people. Just because of their skin doesn't mean that they are different. Its not like people have just started treating black people wrong but they have been doing it along time. Humans are created to be equal. I am really upset how they brutally murdered George Floyd.

I have seen some video online on how he had been killed.

There was one police officer staying on patrol while the other one beats him. One police officer had but his knee I think it was on his neck and chocked him. His last words were I can't breathe. I know that I wouldn't understand what they are going through but I will stand by them.

So i agree about protesting and that the death of George Floyd was wrong but the way they are protesting is wrong. The protesters are burning down buildings, business, and cars. I saw this video on Instagram that a little girl had been pepper sprayed BY A POLICE OFFICER. When she got pepper sprayed a bunch of people started gathering around the girl and started pouring milk and water on her (to reduce the pain). Because of these wild protesters kids aren't going to feel safe anymore.

I also saw another video on my tv and there was a woman telling a police officer to take a knee. The police officer was trying to hold it in. He couldn't take a knee because if he did he would loose his job. Before he could take a knee they put him in the back and replaced him with a woman with a baton.

Even though the police officers feel bad for the death of George Floyd they can't take a knee because then they would loose their job. Back to the wild protesters. Just because of George Floyd's deaths doesn't mean you could go around looting(stealing) from stores.

Some peoples business that they worked hard had just been burnt down to the floor. I think that people should be doing peaceful protests. Many people in Brooklyn are doing peaceful protests but then other people are going around and destroying cars.

We're already facing corona virus...

Why are we having even more problems?! History has shown black people being mistreated. When a black person is being arrested he's being harmed in the act.

If it were a white person they would be handled much differently. The police is supposed to keep us safe? Don't make me laugh. They killed a man who wanted to restart his life but didn't even get the chance!

The police's job is to keep us safe but they killed an innocent man. Who knows what they're going to do next to the black community in the future? A lot of riots have started which isn't good.

Corona virus is going to spread much quicker. Not only that but it's pride month. Are the police going to attack the LGBTQ community also?

I feel like some people who are out there protesting are looters because while I was watching CNN last night I saw people stealing and they blend In with the crowd.

And there’s this entrepreneur that I follow on Instagram and she had her store broken in Los Angeles and she said “ I put my blood sweat and tears for this” which is kind of sad to have something like this happen to her.

Another thought I have is that all cops in the George Floyd case should be charged because the took apart of that murder but at least one of them are in custody, something else that haves me confused is why is Donald Trump being so naive about the issues going on all he cares about is making the other countries look like we are the best place in the world.

I think it’s good that people are protesting about police brutality.

The police really should protect the protesters instead of hurt them by spraying tear gas/hitting them for just sitting down. Even though people are using the protest and George Floyd’s death as an excuse to steal, people should still focus on the message the protesters are trying to spread:

to end police brutality and that black lives matter too.

I think the police officer that killed George Floyd should go to jail and get charged for killing George Floyd. All lives matter

I am happy that the George Floyd riot is starting to become a peaceful protest by collaborating with the police.

I think that people should not treat others differently because of their skin color !!!!!

George Floyd should not have been killed because of his skin color because all Colors matter

✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿!!!!

Everything that is going on is crazy right now with the riots and COVID-19, but knowing that people are out there fighting for our lives and rights is enough reassurance.

Everything is quickly getting out of control

That people and police are kinda becoming crazy and violent and commit crimes when they have the chance to.

My thoughts this week are that COVID-19 really brought out the good and bad in people.

I think people have a right to vote because racism has been going on for so many years.

When people want the black lives to change their ways than why don’t they change their ways too. #icantbreath #blacklivesmatter

Society was like a powder keg waiting to explode. It was only a matter of time before everything bubbled over. This is not the first time rioting has happened, and it's certainly not the worst. Riots have brought changes before.

The fact that our president has quite literally shut off the lights and hid says a lot. The people have no more patience, and maybe that's a good thing.

After years of arbitrary racism, changes are long due. Not all of the chaos happening at the moment is necessary, but a large portion of it could be for the better.

Also, Cuomo for 2020. Get that bumbling fool out of the president's seat immediately.

Yesterday my dad got a alert on his phone that there is a curfew now and I don't think that's fair it is 11pm to 5am.

Its not like I'm going to go outside and hour to midnight but that is just not fair..

I think the police officer that killed George Floyd should go to jail and get charged for killing George Floyd. All lives matter

In my opinion, I think the protests are important because the message that they are portraying is very powerful, and key for the type of world we live in.

Moreover, they are helping other victims get the voice they deserve. However, when these protests get violent and harmful, that’s when they don’t count as “live-saving.”

And I could never imagine George Floyd wanting people getting justice they way they are. He was a kind human, who would want the protests to be peaceful. Either way though, Black Lives Will Always Matter! 🖤#JusticeForGeorgeFloyd

I am catching up with my grades.

I am really frustrated about what happened to George Floyd and I am just aggravated people still have to fight for the same thing but it is still happening over and over.

It’s been a really crazy week but I hope everything keeps going well.

There is a lot that happened last week, I heard that a man named George Floyd was pinned on the floor by a police officer and he was having trouble breathing and kept on saying he couldn’t breathe, the police officer didn’t let him go and he basically murdered the guy. Now there’s this whole protest going on because of this.

I feel really upset and disappointed because there’s a whole crisis going on and I think there has been at least 3 African Americans that were murdered.

This past week has been hectic. All of the protests, killing, and overload of scary news is overwhelming for me. Whenever I see news about people getting killed just because of their race, I feel very mad and disappointed.

Its like we can't even go outside without having to be worried or frightened about what is going to happen to us. Its just sad honestly. I really hope this situation will end soon, and I hope that all people will actually get their justice and freedom of speech.

George Floyd didn't deserve to die.

He yelled that he couldn't breath and the officer continued placing his knee on his Floyd's neck. George Floyd didn't do anything, he wasn't resisting and the officer had no reason to feel threatened. The protests and riots that have been occurring recently are also understandable but it still shouldn't be happening. With the quarantine and stress, people got angered, but them setting everything on fire or stealing from stores just doesn't make sense to me, everyone's just hurting themselves.

George Floyd's own family wanted the rioting to stop as well. I seen that people were being attacked by tear gases, adults and kids are getting maced whether they did anything or not.

I agree that black lives matter and that this racism is foolish, but the way people are fighting for this isn't safe.

In my opinion I think that it is just not fair. Everything that is going on right now is not acceptable at all, so many lives are being lost and to the man George Floyd it was a hard time.

The way that officer put his knee on George Floyd's neck was heartbreaking to watch. Protests are going on and curfews but none of them are peaceful ones, people are getting sprayed with pepper spray and arrested, cars and buildings are on fire, shops are stolen.

Also adding with all of this the COVID-19 is definitely an add in death note.

Well I think the protests are going to rapidly go down because of the guards/ swat team RIP George Floyd ⛪️🙏

I would wanna protest too. Until black lives matter, all lives will not matter.

Well I have been thinking about how much I have never really payed such close attention to the racism and discrimination we have worldwide. Something that's really bothering that that I have been thinking about is how people judge by color.

That is such disgusting behavior I can't imagine how upset and heartbroken George Perry Floyd. I want to look more into what this world has become into, it's heartbreaking. These protests are also getting way to out of hand. I have been seeing on cable news videos of people stealing and throwing explosives leaving places destroyed, I even saw a man's arm broken it looked dislocated.

I get it how #BlackLivesMatter and trust me I understand that completely but, when people are literally INJURING and HARMING others is not right.

I have learned about the 14th Dalai Lama recently *Leader Of Tibet* and he always talks about peace and compassion which what is happening right now is not the case of peace. This is my opinion so far.

I'm glad I expressed how I felt about the past issue with George Floyd in a paragraph. This is pure racism and discrimination, George Floyd surrendered but the cop decided to literally keep his knee on George Perry Floyd for 10 minutes.

And for what reason, that's sick 🤢Thanks for giving me the opportunity to express how I feel.

I have always been a student of history. One of my passion is music and the effects it has on society.

Freedom of expression is so important and should never be censored or abused.

This page is a tribute to expressions that have been made throughout the years at Ditmas JHS.

Ditmas has supported a News Network, Podcast stations, and many other artistic expressions.

The tools are there at Ditmas. It is up to you "the student" to take advantage of them. Release your creativity!

Can you spot the Marvin Gaye Picture? Hopefully you will notice other pictures in the TV/Radio room. - Carideo

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