In light of the fifth death anniversary of George Floyd, Stephen A. Smith shared his insight on what has changed—and what has not—since 2020.
In one of his videos, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith gave an honest analysis of what has changed over five years since the case of George Floyd shook the United States and the world.
“It shows that it was a bunch of lip service because the real change that needed to be made involved our laws, involved participation in issues that pertain to the American public, and to make sure that our voices were heard in a resounding fashion so people would know never to let these kind of things happen again,” Smith said.
“Folks didn’t do it,” he added. “Instead, they gave lip service. They protested. Biden got in office, Trump was out, and as a result, they turned their attention towards stuff like cancel culture and woke politics. And the other side paid their attention to denigrating the left for focusing on those things and highlighting how it would hurt the fabric of America.”
“And the issues that existed in 2020 still exist today. Go figure.”
George Floyd’s tragic story began on May 25, 2020, when he was killed by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who knelt on Floyd’s neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds during an arrest. Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, repeatedly pleaded, “I can’t breathe,” but Chauvin refused to release his hold.
George Floyd’s 5th Death Anniversary Remembered
George Floyd’s legacy was honored across the United States on the fifth anniversary of his death, with commemorations held in both Houston, where he grew up, and Minneapolis, where he was killed.
In Minneapolis, events included a church service and a gospel concert at George Floyd Square, the intersection named in his memory. Meanwhile, Floyd’s family gathered in Houston for a memorial service led by Rev. Al Sharpton, where they urged continued efforts toward police reform.
Despite the initial momentum for change, many of the reforms enacted after Floyd’s death are now being rolled back. The Trump administration recently announced plans to scrap federal oversight agreements with police departments in cities like Minneapolis and Louisville, arguing that previous investigations relied on flawed methodologies.
Public sentiment on racial justice has also shifted in the years since Floyd’s death. A recent Pew Research Center survey found that 72% of Americans believe there have been no meaningful improvements for Black communities since 2020.
As the nation reflects on his impact, George Floyd’s name remains a powerful symbol in the ongoing fight for racial justice.
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