Black Lives Matter Movement Inspires Demonstrations In UK

Source: Christopher Furlong / Getty

There’s no way around it: the murder of George Floyd is impacting the world in a way we’ve truly never seen before. Even though him dying at the hands of police is an all too familiar story, this instance was the last straw for many Americans, sparking nationwide protests and a refusal to be silenced. Not only that, the movement surrounding Floyd’s death has also inspired more people than ever to donate to the cause.

The Official George Floyd Memorial Fund was only launched a little over a week ago, and as of Friday, June 5, it has already received the highest number of individual donations for a GoFundMe page ever.

According to reports from TMZ, a spokesperson tells the site that the campaign has amassed nearly 500,000 donations and counting, raising nearly $13 million. Not only that, the campaign has gone global, getting donations from people in 125 countries.

Philonise, George’s brother, says the money will go toward covering Floyd’s funeral and burial expenses, provide counseling, pay for lodging and travel for all court proceedings, and assist the family going forward as they seek justice for George. Plus, a portion of the funds will go to George’s estate to take care of his kids and provide for their education moving forward.

The first of four memorials for George Floyd was held on Thursday in Minneapolis, which will be followed by another in North Carolina on Saturday, and two more in Houston next week.

You May Also Like

Girl receives flu shot at outdoor free clinic

This week in politics, the vibes are messy, alarming, and straight-up confusing. From late night TV being snatched off the air to vaccine policies getting hijacked, it’s giving “WTF is going on?” Let’s break down the headlines everyone’s talking about inside. First Amendment on the Chopping Block Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show has been pulled from ABC, and Stephen Colbert’s show? Cancelled completely. The official line is murky, but the bigger picture is loud. Free speech is being tested under the Trump administration. While Trump once said he’d “honor” the First Amendment, recent moves suggest he’s working off a remix version that only benefits him. Case in point? The Guardian reports his $15 billion lawsuit against The New York Times. A judge already tossed it out, saying Trump’s claims about “false content” violated federal rules. Still, the fact that these lawsuits and cancellations keep happening has people questioning the future of free expression in America. CDC Shake-Up Sparks Health Concerns Meanwhile, over at the CDC, things are getting political fast. Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has basically turned the agency upside down, firing all 17 members of the vaccine advisory committee and replacing them with appointees that include vaccine skeptics. On top of that, the CDC director is out, high-level staffers are resigning, and decisions about vaccine safety are suddenly more about politics than science. Public health leaders are calling this move dangerous, saying it dismantles independent oversight just when Americans need clarity most. According to California’s government website, they are one of the few states pushing back on the federal government’s stance. California, Washington, and Hawaii aren’t taking it lying down. The states have formed an alliance pushing back on the feds, promising to keep vaccine guidance rooted in science, safety, and transparency. Their health officers are reviewing guidelines from trusted medical groups like the AAP and ACOG to ensure communities still have access to clinically recommended vaccines. Trump & Xi Meet About US TikTok’s Next Chapter And then there’s TikTok. After years of “will they, won’t they?” drama, Trump announced that he and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping approved a deal for TikTok’s U.S. operations. According to BBC, the plan reportedly hands control to a group of U.S. investors, sidestepping a shutdown. Trump called the call with Xi “productive” on Truth Social, and even, teased a face-to-face meetup at the APEC summit in South Korea this fall. From free speech battles to vaccine wars and TikTok drama, this week in politics has us all asking the same thing: WTFGO?

Global Grind