Following the unjust death of George Floyd, the world has started to protest for the Black Lives Matter movement in many ways, with creative artists using their platform to amplify the protests surrounding systemic racism and prejudice in American police departments.
Now, Spike Lee has released a short film on his social media channels which highlight crucial issues of police brutality and racism.
In the wake of George Floyd’s death, Spike Lee has released a powerful short film on the matter, titled 3 Brothers-Radio Raheem, Eric Garner And George Floyd.
George Floyd, aged 46, was killed, his treatment from police based on the false accusation that he wrote a fraudulent cheque.
The short film begins with a powerful and clearcut message: “Will history stop repeating itself?”
The film displays footage of the deaths of Eric Garner (2014) and George Floyd (2020) at the hands of violent police officers. It also shows a scene from Spike’s 1989 film Do The Right Thing, where character, Radio Raheem, also dies while being restrained by a white police officer.
About the short film, Spike Lee stated:
“How can people not understand why people are acting the way they are? This is not new, we saw with the riots in the 60s, the assassination of Dr King, every time something jumps off and we don’t get our justice, people are reacting the way they feel they have to to be heard. We are seeing this again and again and again… This is the thing: the killing of black bodies, that is what this country is built upon.”
Protests have been erupting, first in Minneapolis, and now, all over the US and the world. While the explosion of protests is sure to stop in due time, it’s important to remember that the conversation must continue to create change and justice for Black lives in America and across the world. Watch the short film below.
3 Brothers-Radio Raheem, Eric Garner And George Floyd. pic.twitter.com/EB0cXQELzE
— Spike Lee (@SpikeLeeJoint) June 1, 2020
