The Roundup: George Floyd Didn't Ask to Be a Hero

From the Editor

What's up, South End?

This Sunday, May 25, was the five-year anniversary of the killing of George Floyd — and to be clear, I used that clunky phrasing to describe the date because in the time between then and now, a section of our society has made this day about Floyd himself in the most disingenuous way possible.

George Floyd never asked to be a "hero." He didn't want to be famous. I wouldn't even call him a martyr — he didn't die fighting for a greater cause.

He was murdered. On videotape. For nine agonizing minutes, Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on Floyd's neck, literally squeezing the life out of him.

May 25 is not a holiday. It's not a rallying cry for Floyd. It's a reminder of the injustice people in this country face and the violence perpetuated by officers. Floyd is a symbol only in that he became a victim. But he didn't ask for this.

When the video of his death hit social media, it spread like wildfire. The perfect culmination of unrest we already felt from being trapped indoors during a global pandemic and — for many of us — it was yet another example of an unarmed Black person being killed by police. For those reasons, and so many more reasons, Floyd's murder sparked protests around the world.

But I assure you … If Floyd had a choice, he'd be here today. That much we can surmise from the video where he pleads for his life. If his family had a choice, he would be here today. They didn't want to lose a loved one.

Now, as I write this days before the five-year anniversary of the murder that sparked what was deemed back then as a racial awakening, the Department of Justice, under President Donald Trump, has just announced they will end federal consent decrees and halt investigations into police departments across the country — including in Minneapolis, where Floyd was killed. 

Over the weekend, The Emerald published op-eds about Floyd's murder, about the protests, and everything that happened five years ago. We examined the time between then and now and discussed what, if anything, has changed.

The Roundup Rundown

Where Food Justice Meets Hip-Hop: Inside Seattle's Cherry Street Farm

What do hydroponics, hip-hop, and sustainable eating have in common? Emerald reporter (and high school student) Timothy Dong has the answer in his recent reporting.

I almost don't want to give my take, because this article was so cool, I want y'all to read it for yourselves.

But Keith Tucker is the founder of Hip Hop is Green. He is bringing urban farming to the Central District with shipping containers full of vegetable gardens.

Tucker's master plan is for Cherry Street Farm to be a place where the community can learn, grow healthy foods, and gather for live music and performances.

To get the full scoop on how and when all this will come together, check out Timothy's reporting here.

Ask Lola: Where Is a Safe Drop-Off Spot by Rainier Beach Light Rail Station?

Shoutout to everyone submitting questions to Lola E. Peters for the Ask Lola column. In the latest edition, I learned something new that I have to share with y'all.

Did you know about the Metro Flex program?? It's like Uber for King County Metro! They have an app you can download to request on-demand rides in Metro's service area — all for the cost of riding the bus.

Maybe I'm just late to the party, but this is a game changer. In Lola's column this week, an Emerald reader was worried about dropping their little brother off at the Rainier Beach light rail station safely — which is a great question to ask, because the most dangerous stretch of light rail tracks in Seattle is in the South End.

But, the next time you need a ride, and you are in the Metro service area, before using an expensive ride-share app, you may want to pull up the Metro Flex app instead.

For more advice on how to safely navigate light rail stations in the South End, check out Lola's full column here.

Mike Davis is the newsletter editor and Voices editor at the South Seattle Emerald. Born and raised in Seattle's South End, Mike is a longtime journalist who's covered everything from arts and culture to sports to politics.