Was ever a worse hero than George Floyd?

5 years later, can we all breathe now?

Sunday was the five-year anniversary of the termination of George Floyd’s squandered life. Like those burrowing tree cicadas, five-year anniversaries cause professional scribblers to rub their legs together and attempt profundity. They’re programmed that way. CNN went up with “George Floyd legacy: How loved ones remember George Floyd.” (Too bad his loved ones never gave the mope tough love.) In many cities, a George Floyd murals compete with memorials to M.L. King Jr.

Upon his arrest for passing funny money, the 6-foot 4-inch petty criminal fought off four police officers trying to secure the obstreperous man into a Minneapolis police car. That was the first time he said “I can’t breathe.” As a result of his unlawful resistance, one of the arrested officers knelt on the arrestee’s neck until back up could arrive. Paramedics — called by the arresting police — arrived too late. Four police officers, including one black man, were put behind bars.

At the trial, medical experts gave conflicting opinions whether Mr. Floyd’s death was actually caused by drug overdose, heart disease, or a tumor. Notably, the autopsy found no injury to Mr. Floyd’s neck. Was Derek Chauvin the victim of political hysteria?

 A tragedy all around — then and now

The faux moral high ground accorded this reverse role model licensed bad actors to burn and pillage for fun and profit. Like a certain Devonere Johnson here in Madison WI. Calling himself the “Black Jesus,” Johnson extorted downtown restaurateurs with a baseball bat and a bullhorn, demanding they “Venmo me the money” in the cause of racial justice or get trashed. 

While resisting justice, the perp thought to exclaim “I can’t breathe.” Mayor Satya Rhodes Conway and Ald. Tag Evers demanded Johnson’s immediate release. (Read & Weep)

Given that official imprimatur, social justice warriors that night fire-bombed the city-county building, smashed windows at the State Capitol, and tore down two iconic statues on the Capitol grounds — one of them an abolitionist who gave his life in the Civil War. (Now THERE is skin in the game!) The mob also assaulted a gay state Senator, a Democrat. The same night, Althea Bernstein faked injuries from “classic Wisconsin frat boys.” Law enforcement spent untold hours unraveling her lie; the young woman’s racism was never punished.

25% of persons killed by police are black. This is roughly double their 13% share of the overall population, but it is in line with — and sometimes below — many other bench-marks … such as the racial breakdowns of arrests, murders, and violent-crime offenders as reported by victims in surveys. — Manhattan Institute  

 The violence was nationwide

After two of his used car lots were destroyed in rioting in Kenosha, the immigrant owner asked for volunteers to protect the remaining lot, the police having retreated. Kid named Kyle Rittenhouse responded, so did the arsonists.

Worse than the fire bombing etc. is the bad, guilt-ridden policy, hurriedly enacted in Mr. Floyd’s wake. Can’t Breathe puffed new life into the Woke movement, which teaches that this nation is institutionally racist. Government, the education-industrial establishment, even some businesses hired diversity czars pulling down high six-figure salaries. (“Democrats wanted to hide UW’s DEI scam”) Yet, all that diversity, equity, and inclusion hasn’t stopped anti-semitism on campus. Or improved test scores in our K-12s.

Siding with the social justice warriors who disrupted Madison school board meetings, The Capital Times newspaper demanded school police resource officers be defunded. The city council created a well paid independent police monitor to … do what?

Blaska’s Bottom Line: The cult of George Floyd made police the fall guys while consecrating self-victimization. Think about it: From the picayune to the profound, the George Floyd phenomenon brought down Bud Light beer and did nothing to stop the slaughter on fifth avenue in cities like Milwaukee and Chicago. One good result: it defeated Kamala Harris.

Who dares agree?