George Floyd: Barack Obama Urges Protesters To Vote Out Bad Leaders, Not Vandalize Properties

The 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, has advised protesters not to disrupt the country but to engage in voting for good leaders who would create laws and institutions that would stop racism,among others.

Obama, in a Facebook post on Monday, said that while protests could play a role in nation building; it was the creation of systems and structures that actually determined what obtains in a society.

“The point of protest is to raise public awareness, to put a spotlight on injustice, and to make the powers that be uncomfortable; in fact, throughout American history, it’s only in response to protest that the political system has even paid attention to marginalized communities.

“But eventually, aspirations have to be translated into specific laws and institutional practices – and in a democracy, that only happens when we elect government officials who are responsive to our demands.”

He stated that the reality on ground was the direct result of reforms by elected officials at various levels.

He added that it was elected officials at local and state levels that shaped policing and criminal justice system, adding that “the elected officials who matter most in reforming police departments and the criminal justice system work at the state and local level.”

“Moreover, it’s important for us to understand which levels of government have the biggest impact on our criminal justice system and police practices. When we think about politics, a lot of us focus only on the presidency and the federal government.

“And yes, we should be fighting to make sure that we have a president, a Congress, a U.S. Justice Department, and a federal judiciary that actually recognize the ongoing, corrosive role that racism plays in our society and want to do something about it,” he added.

Recall that video footages showed a police official kneeling on George Floyd’s neck; he eventually died.