Sign at George Floyd Square Gives Special Rules ‘for White People’
'For White people in particular'
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White people who visit the square where George Floyd was murdered by ex-Minnesota cop Derek Chauvin will now have to obey 'special rules' according to a new signposted.
The sign at the square reads:
“A Sacred Space for Community, Public Grief, and Protest.”
It then goes on to detail instructions under the heading: “For White people in particular.”
“Decenter yourself and come to listen, learn, mourn, and witness. Remember you are here to support, not to be supported,” the first line reads.
White people about to enter George Floyd square are given special instructions pic.twitter.com/3gzpwqUmtS
— Matt Finn (@MattFinnFNC) April 21, 2021
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Whites are then told:
“Be mindful of whether your volume, pace, and movements are supporting or undermining your efforts to decenter yourself.”
The sign instructs white visitors, “Seek to contribute to the energy of the space, rather than drain it.
"Bring your own processing to other white folks so that you will not harm BIPOC.”
(BIPOC is an acronym that stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.)
The fourth direction to white visitors reads:
“Consider if you want or need to take photos and post them. Do not take photos of other people without their consent."
White people are also urged to police other whites.
“If you witness white folks doing problematic things, speak up with compassion to take the burden of off Black folks and our siblings of color whenever appropriate. Seek to engage rather than escalate, so that it can be a learning moment rather than a disruption,” the sign reads.
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The sign drew a grim reaction from Twitter.
A woman named Bethany called criticism of the note “disheartening.”
“The sign wouldn’t exist and address the points if there wasn’t disrespect from white people in the square as an ongoing issue,” she claimed.
Disheartening reading through the replies but ironic at the same time. The sign wouldn’t exist and address the points if there wasn’t disrespect from white people in the square as an ongoing issue.
— bethany༶ (@messybethy) April 22, 2021
Another wrote:
Are there any instructions that say, “Don’t use Fentanyl or Meth”?
— Nunya Business (@Nunya305) April 22, 2021
Nothing like trying to stir up more trouble! I can't imagine what would happen if any place had a sign posted with special instructions for black people.
— Dorothy Derr (@DerrDorothy) April 21, 2021
The square has been planned to reopen to traffic after Derek Chauvin was found guilty this week of three murder and manslaughter charges in connection with Floyd’s death.
But activists controlling the site say they plan to stay there until all trials related to Floyd’s death are completed.
“The current state of the intersection known as George Floyd Square is contributing to the peace and safety of the surrounding neighborhoods,” a statement from the group claiming to represent those in George Floyd square said.
“Amid ongoing threats of White Supremacist violence, in the absence of justice, the barricades and community structures at 38th and Chicago should remain through the trial of all four officers.
"It’s problematic to misconstrue police brutality as progress toward racial healing.”
