Do Not Trust Your Lying Eyes, Trump Administration Decrees

The recent incident in Minneapolis, where a cold-blooded killing of an unarmed black man named George Floyd by an ICE officer has sparked nationwide outrage and protests, brought to light the questionable actions of the law enforcement agencies and their allies. But what is more disturbing is the strategy being employed by the Trump administration, U.S. Attorney General Ken Vance, and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to downplay the gruesome act and manipulate the public’s perception of the incident.

Throughout history, the phrase “seeing is believing” has been a commonly held belief. However, in today’s world, where technology and media can be easily manipulated, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate between truth and deceit. And this is exactly what the Trump administration and its allies are taking advantage of – our gullibility and inability to trust our own eyes.

The video of George Floyd’s killing, captured by a bystander, has been circulating on various social media platforms, leaving viewers in shock and horror. The video clearly shows the ICE officer, Derek Chauvin, kneeling on Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes, leading to his death. But instead of acknowledging the injustice and taking swift action, the Trump administration and its allies have taken a different route – the route of denial and distortion.

The first tactic used by the Trump administration was to cast doubt on the authenticity of the video. President Trump himself stated that he had not seen the “full picture” and that the video could have been “manipulated.” This statement, along with similar ones made by other officials, planted the seed of doubt in the minds of the public, making them question the credibility of the video and the incident itself.

However, their attempts to discredit the video were quickly debunked when several other videos from different angles surfaced, all showing the same horrifying scene. Yet, the Trump administration continued to push its narrative, insisting that the video may not reflect the whole story. They have even gone as far as dismissing the entire incident as an “isolated case” and emphasizing that it should not be seen as a reflection of the entire law enforcement community’s actions.

The second tactic employed by the Trump administration was to shift the focus from the actual killing to the protests and riots that followed. Instead of addressing the issue at hand, they pointed fingers at the protesters, labeling them as “thugs” and “criminals.” U.S. Attorney General Ken Vance even went as far as stating that the protests were “hijacked by outside radicals and agitators” and that the violence was not racially motivated. This blatant deflection not only ignores the underlying issues of systemic racism and police brutality but also undermines the voices and grievances of the protesters.

But perhaps the most shocking tactic used by the Trump administration and its allies is to “Zapruder” the video – a term derived from the Zapruder film, the famous footage of JFK’s assassination that was studied frame by frame to create different narratives. In this case, the Trump administration has created its own version of the video, selectively showing only the parts that fit their agenda. They have tried to paint a picture where Floyd was resisting arrest and that Chauvin’s use of force was justified.

Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota has been particularly vocal in this regard, stating that she “didn’t know what happened” and that “we cannot jump to conclusions.” In an attempt to distort the truth, the governor has gone as far as claiming that Chauvin’s actions were not a “kneeling” but a “lying on top of” Floyd. Such baseless claims and blatant manipulation of facts only serve to gaslight the public and create confusion and doubt.

But the truth cannot be hidden for long. The video footage clearly shows that Floyd was not resisting arrest and that Chauvin had his knee on Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes, even after he became unresponsive. The medical examiner’s report also confirms that Floyd’s cause of death was “homicide,” due to “asphyxiation from sustained pressure.” These facts are undeniable and cannot be “Zaprudered” or distorted.

The Trump administration and its allies have once again shown their disregard for the truth and their attempts to manipulate the public’s perception. But we must not let them succeed. As responsible citizens, we must trust our own eyes and stand against any form of injustice and discrimination. We must demand accountability and justice for George Floyd and all victims of police brutality