What If You Die?

This article was written on June 2nd, 2020. We have barely experienced half of 2020, yet we are faced with many struggles such as the global pandemic. And now we have to fight against unjust treatment occurring in the country which is supposed to be ‘the most liberal country’ in the world. It is an unfortunate circumstance which should not have happened in the first place. We were supposed to rely on our law enforcement, on our very own government, and yet those who hold power and authority are abusing their powers to oppress those who are vulnerable.

For those who are yet to grasp the reality of the situation, here is an actual conversation I had with my parents last night. They asked me whether I would like to continue my studies after graduating, to which I joyfully answered with a yes—if given the opportunity. They then asked where I would go if I wanted to pursue a master’s degree to which I answered, “Oh, maybe the States.” Their expressions changed almost immediately. There was concern written all over their faces, and I should’ve expected what would come out of their mouths after.

“What if you die?”

The death of George Floyd has affected me even though I’m neither black nor American, yet some people only think that this is an exclusively American or Black problem. Some of you cannot possibly grasp the term ‘privileged’, because maybe you have always been privileged your whole life. Not long ago, a case of discrimination against Papuan citizens by our own country’s law enforcement happened. At that time, the case was brought into public attention; people were not scared of criticizing the law enforcement agency or the government. For the Papuan people however, it was different; they could easily be labeled as ‘terrorists’ and risk getting thrown in jail or brutalised by law enforcement officers. We were privileged enough to speak up on the issue while many Papuans were afraid to fight for their rights since they would be risking their lives in doing so.

The death of George Floyd is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg of racism that exists in the United States and the world as a whole. Many think that the BLM movement is only relevant for Americans, since it is their country’s systematic failure being in the limelight: a problem which could only be fixed by US citizens. However, the underlying issue is: no one should be treated differently based on their race — no one should have died just because they are different.

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights...” is what stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, what’s stated in the declaration has been seriously violated to this day. Racism is a global phenomenon that could be found in all parts of the world. It is a problem for those considered as ‘minorities’. These vulnerable communities, now aren’t even privileged enough to stay at home in the midst of the pandemic, as they have to take to the streets to fight for their rights. It is time for us to lend a helping hand by participating in the movement; for the sake of humanity.