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Event Journal
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Instructor’s Name and Title
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Event Journal
Historical analysis is vital in understanding the developments of the current era and
predicting the subsequent ones. The shooting death of Sonya Massey in her house in Illinois
has attracted controversy on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act re-enforcing that the
United States is yet to fully deal with police violence and racism. The case highlights a lack
of responsibility at the state level and the need to work on improving legislation within the
country. This essay will summarize the article on Massey’s killing, relate it to the content
discussed in units 3 and 4 of the course, and conclude by reflecting on the event and its
historical significance.
Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, was tragically killed by a White sheriff’s
deputy, Sean Grayson when she called 911 for help. The article published by CNN by Ray
Sanchez focuses on the shooting incident that occurred on July 25, 2024, titled “Renewed
Calls for Passage of George Floyd Justice in Policing Act after Fatal Shooting of Black
Woman in Her Home”. The event took place in Springfield, Illinois, and there are attempts to
enhance the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act (Sanchez, 2024). The bill, which was first
filed in 2020, seeks to prevent police brutality and racial profiling through objectionable
incidents, a prohibition on chokeholds and no-knock warrants, and adjustments to the concept
of qualified immunity. However, the same bill has stalled in the Senate from the House due to
party disagreements even after it passed through the latter. The article brings attention to the
situation and states how difficult it is to pass useful laws in the US.
Connecting the current event with units 3 and 4 of the course uncovers deeper
historical underpinnings. In unit 3, the Civil Rights Movement was a key development that
ended racial segregation and racism across the United States in terms of legislation and the
passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It is further
continued by the modern legislation targeted at the fight against racism in police service,
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namely, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The present evidence of police brutality
and racial motivation reveals the struggle for racial equality is far from over, and the fight
against racism is still to be won. The continuity and comparative features stress the
importance of various political, economic, and social reforms in the context of history
relevant to current topics.
Unit 4 is the period that started after the Civil Rights Movement and the main
objective of this unit is to showcase the efforts made for justice after the backward turn the
country took. The death of George Floyd in 2020 and the subsequent protests and demands
for reduced use of force by the police, place the topic of the Unit 4 material in context. The
protests over the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act date back to the political and social
conflicts, which prevail since the American Civil Rights Movement. It is thus evident that
historical events and personalities, for example, Martin Luther King Jr. and the Selma to
Montgomery marches, played a huge role in inspiring the current generation to deal with
issues of racism and continue to link past struggles with the present era
Reflecting on this current event, one cannot help but notice that the struggle for racial
justice has not ended yet. The incidents involving the murder of Sonya Massey show that
police brutality requires constant struggle and demand for new legislation as seen in the Civil
Rights Movement and its reforms. It also shows what kind of outcome today’s political
decisions will have on the society of tomorrow. If the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act
were to pass Congress, it could bring numerous changes in the practices of conducting police
operations and, thus, reduce the frequency of the use of excessive force and regain people’s
trust in policing. However, it remains unclear what consequences may occur if the legislation
is not passed, such as the ongoing protest and call for change.
In conclusion, deep insights help us understand the events that have occurred in the
past and what could happen in the future. When looking at the article on the George Floyd
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Justice in Policing Act alongside the content discussed in Units 3 and 4, it becomes obvious
that the social justice demands seen today are rooted in the historical struggles for equality
and justice. Thus, the exercise is not only historical but also strengthens the activity for the
cause that calls for the inclusion of significant reform over time, or how historical study is
significantly informative in dealing with current concerns.
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Reference
Sanchez, R. (2024, July 25). Renewed calls for passage of George Floyd justice in policing
act after fatal shooting of Black woman in her home. Retrieved from
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/25/us/george-floyd-justice-in-policing-act/
index.html
