Will Minorities Be Left To Stand Alone?
This year can definitely be described as “unpredictable”. Not only have Americans experienced a restricted life due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but they have also witnessed the systematic racism that lives in the country. The death of George Floyd at the hands of a white officer ignited a spark of anger inside of many people; there were protests, marches, and pleads from people in support of African Americans everywhere. A big factor that also angered many citizens was the deportation of thousands of immigrants. These immigrants were detained in overcrowded detention centers inside of cages like animals, with foil blankets. Americans want to see change happen. They are eager for justice and want for the next president to step up and have a plan to improve the discrimination against minorities.
Amidst the injustice towards immigrants and people of color, many Americans took to the streets to protest for those without a voice. The protests for ‘Black Lives Matter’ gained attention throughout the country. People were defending their rights and standing up for people like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor who lost their lives in an undeserved manner. While some protested, many artists expressed what they were feeling through art as a way to bring attention to the problems in the country like the mural below.
Others painted “Black Lives Matter” on streets, Trump called this “a symbol of hate” and defined the protests as “violent.”
Joe Biden has embraced the movement. Biden has focused on calling the problems that African Americans face as ‘systemic injustice’ and has brought attention to the number of colored people who have died because of COVID-19.
According to Pew Research, “among all registered voters, 44% say that it is a lot more difficult to be a Black person than a White person in this country.” This percentage has increased by 9% since 2016.
Donald Trump made headlines when he said Mexico was not sending “its best immigrants” and calling them “rapists”. Trump’s 2018 ‘zero-tolerance’ policy led to thousands of children being separated from their parents, leaving them on their own. Today many have noticed how “he has largely ignored the sources of the racial unrest that has erupted around the country in recent months.”
In an ABC News Go Blog, Bill Barrow signaled out how Joe Biden has ‘expressed regret’ over the Obama administration’s immigration policy; "calling it a ‘big mistake’ to have deported thousands of people with no criminal records”.
When asked about their plans to address the systematic racism in the justice system, both candidates exposed their different mindsets.
Trump argued that it would “heal” itself when the economy was strong again. Trump has actually questioned if it even exists and has emphasized that he has improved the unemployment rate within the African American community.
Biden responded with a “comprehensive plan” to address racial disparities on issues like health, affordable housing, with a focus to better economic equality and promised a fair criminal justice system. He has also expressed how he will “not exploit the country’s racial wounds for political gain like his opponent.”
It is uncertain who will win in the presidential election. However, Americans are pleading for a change for minorities. There will be no change if the next president does not take an initiative and embraces the diversity in the country.
