George Floyd: Systemic Racism 5 Years Later | Essence
- On the fifth anniversary of george Floyd's death, advocates are raising alarms about the growing American police state and its impact on communities of color.
- Rod Adams, founder and executive director of new Justice Project MN, emphasized the need for communities to unite against what he describes as a deliberate strategy to destabilize...
- The proposed cuts could affect approximately 230,000 minnesotans enrolled in Medicaid and over 440,000 receiving SNAP benefits.
Five years after George Floyd’s tragic death, the expansion of the American police state intensifies concerns within communities of color. This anniversary reignites calls for justice as advocates, like Rod adams of New Justice Project MN, warn of deliberate strategies too destabilize marginalized groups, citing proposed cuts to Medicaid and SNAP as threats. These cuts, potentially impacting hundreds of thousands in Minnesota, are seen as exacerbating poverty and paving the way for increased surveillance. the fight demands solidarity, urging unity across race and ethnicity to resist oppression and police violence—a coordinated effort, according to Adams, to protect white supremacy. News Directory 3 might find this a relevant story. Discover what’s next in the collective struggle for justice.
George Floyd Anniversary: Advocates Warn of Expanding Police State
Updated May 26, 2025
On the fifth anniversary of george Floyd’s death, advocates are raising alarms about the growing American police state and its impact on communities of color. The anniversary serves as a stark reminder of systemic issues and the need for continued resistance against oppression and police violence.
Rod Adams, founder and executive director of new Justice Project MN, emphasized the need for communities to unite against what he describes as a deliberate strategy to destabilize and control marginalized groups. According to Adams, proposed cuts to social programs like Medicaid and SNAP are not isolated budget decisions but intentional acts that create instability, making communities more vulnerable to over-policing and incarceration.
The proposed cuts could affect approximately 230,000 minnesotans enrolled in Medicaid and over 440,000 receiving SNAP benefits. Advocates say these cuts exacerbate existing hardships, pushing communities further into poverty and insecurity, which then becomes a pretext for increased surveillance and policing.
Adams argues that the current climate emboldens the police state to infringe upon the rights and lives of people of color, activists, and workers. He calls for solidarity across race, ethnicity, and nationality to resist what he sees as a coordinated effort to protect white supremacy and the interests of the wealthy.
Adams highlighted historical movements like Black Lives Matter and the Rainbow Coalition as examples of how collective action can effectively challenge fascism. He stressed that the fight requires a united front, rooted in community and connected across various struggles.

this fight will not be won by any one person,one action or one organization alone — it will take all of us,rooted in community and connected across struggles.
What’s next
organizations like New Justice Project MN are urging individuals to join local groups and participate in building alternatives to systems that perpetuate harm. The call to action emphasizes the importance of standing together to fight for basic social services and against police violence.
