4 Black Women Killed by Police Before the Killing of George Floyd

By EntreMundos

After the killing of George Floyd, a wave of anger has arisen in the United States, leading to several demonstrations against racism throughout the country demanding justice for Floyd. The crimes and deaths of other black people, especially black women, in suspicious circumstances have not been isolated incidents of the abuse of power by the police. Whether you’ve heard of them through the media or not, we want to present you with and remember 5 sad cases that show once again that racism is a deeply rooted illness throughout the world, including in diverse Latin America.

Joane Florvil – Chile

On August 29, 2017, Wilfred Fidele, husband of Joane, was the victim of a robbery and his wife Joane Florvil went to report the incident at the Rights Protection Office of the Commune of Lo Prado. When she got back to her house her child wasn’t there, as she had been accused of abandonment and was arrested. Her heartbroken face appeared in the media, but the situation was difficult for Joane because she didn’t speak Spanish. Later, she was moved to the hospital in serious condition for having been hit multiple times in circumstances that were not explained by authorities. On September 30, she passed away, far from her daughter and husband.

Atatiana Jefferson – United States

According to CNN, Atatiana was a black woman who was shot to death by a white police officer in her house in Fort Worth, Texas, after one of her neighbors called to inform police that her door was open. The officers were searching the perimeter of the house when they saw someone in the house standing close to a window. One of the officers opened fire and killed her, said Fort Worth police.

Claudia Silva Ferreira – Brazil

Brazil’s military police shot Claudia Silva Ferreira on March 16, 2014 while conducting drug seizures in the favela Morro da Congonha. The unconscious Claudia was put in the trunk of the police car. Testimony indicates that the trunk was left open and her body soon rolled out of the trunk, stuck in a cord that was being used to tie her down. Her body was dragged along the asphalt for a few meters, despite the fact that other drivers and pedestrians tried to alert the police officers in the car. The journalist Monica Waldvogel wrote on Twitter that the officers responsible had already been involved in previous suspect deaths.

Breonna Taylor – United States

This story is about a 26-year-old emergency medical technician who was shot eight times when officers in Louisville, Kentucky carried out a raid at the wrong address on March 13, 2020. They were looking for drugs in the apartment but didn’t find any. “The police shot after I did because I thought they were intruders,” said Breonna’s boyfriend. In his 911 call, he reported that men had violently kicked in the door and shot his girlfriend.

As has been seen throughout history, racism will be a difficult illness to eradicate, and maybe it will never be completely eliminated. But the fight for those who have lost their lives in racial crimes, or even through negligence with a racist overtones, will also continue, as has always been the case when in human history a group of people wants to exploit another based on cultural and biological differences of each human being. This year has taught us many lessons, one of which is that we need to reflect on our own practices that may be racist or discriminatory, not only against black people, but also against indigenous people, women, and other groups that have been vulnerable throughout time.