Five years later: The legacy of activism and George Floyd

5 years since the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis. Action News race and culture reporter Tonda Thomas of course following what has happened in these five years and the activism sparked by that heinous act. Tonda. Absolutely. Sh. The outcry for justice in the George Floy Floyd case extended from where it happened in Minneapolis to cities across the country including our area. It was a period of activism that 5 years later experts say was historic. Do a little verse for you. Making music. If you're looking in the mirror, then you can see the true you. For artist and community advocate Vente Arson, it's about more than beats and rhymes. I look at music and art is being a way to transcend time and space and different cultures and break down barriers. Much like he felt barriers breaking down in 2020. It felt good to be walking down the street with 400 people that all had the same mindset of wanting to see some change. Activism exploded in the wake of the murder of George Floyd by police. I don't think before that there was any event that I could remember where the whole world basically watched a black man being murdered on video. Temple professor Malef Kete Asante has written more than a hundred books. He says the activism that happened in 2020 was historic. When you look back at uh our history, uh 2020 will be a pivotal point. Once George Floyd happened, everybody ears were open. The waves of local protests happened in Philadelphia and in the suburbs. It also did something else that I think is quite memorable. It brought together white, black, Asian, Puerto Rican holding hands together. That period of activism made people like Clemens feel real change was on the horizon. But 5 years later, that feeling has changed. We had policies in place to strip away all of the work that we have done for years. progress followed by some regress. Asante says historically it's not uncommon. There is an element that reacts always to the progress. Still, he feels the activism of 2020 will go down in history with community advocates like Clemens forever a part of a pivotal movement. I think everybody has that in their mind to keep this alive. And one of the books that Asante is working on right now will include the activism of 2020. Shie. Okay. Ter, thanks for the