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Trevor Noah's Speech on George Floyd's Death and Protests

Watch Trevor Noah's Powerful Speech on Protesting: "Police in America Are Looting Black Bodies"

Trevor Noah delivered a powerful speech on the ongoing nationwide protests following the May 25 killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. In a video shared to The Daily Show's YouTube channel on May 29, the host addressed the concerns of those who have expressed opposition to rioting and looting, while also offering context on the significance behind the forms of protest. "Fundamentally, when you boil it down, society is a contract," Noah said. "It's a contract that we sign as human beings amongst each other. . . . As with most contracts, the contract is only as strong as the people who are abiding by it."

He added: "Think about that unease that you felt watching that Target being looted, try to imagine how it must feel for Black Americans when they watch themselves being looted every single day. Because that's fundamentally what's happening in America. Police in America are looting Black bodies. And I know someone might think that's an extreme phrase, but it's not, because here's the thing I think a lot of people don't realise: George Floyd died. That is part of the reason the story became so big, is because he died. But how many George Floyds are there that don't die? . . . It's only the gruesome deaths that stick out."

Through his impassioned words, Noah continually posed important questions and shone a telling light on the issue at hand: "Imagine to yourself, if you grew up in a community where every day someone had their knee on your neck . . . you tell me what that does to you as a society, as a community, as a group of people, and when you know that this is happening because of the colour of your skin." Watch Noah's full speech above, and browse this selection of books about systemic and interpersonal racism for further information and education.

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