Syrian Artists Paint Mural For George Floyd In Rubble of War Torn Neighborhood

(TMU) – Police brutality is a global problem, so it makes sense that people around the world are resonating with the movement for police reform that has been inspired by the death of George Floyd. In Syria, two artists painted a mural dedicated to George Floyd, because racism and police brutality are issues that they have faced as well.

Aziz Asmar and Anis Hamdoun said that the painting is meant “to call for peace and love.”

The mural has a painting of Floyd with the words, “I can’t breathe” and “No to racism.” The most powerful thing about the mural is its location, in the rubble of a building that was likely destroyed in the civil war that has been heavily influenced by the US government.

Credit: Aziz Asmar and Anis Hamdoun

“Art is a universal language that anyone can understand. Our humanity requires us to unite with other people who are facing injustice. When we draw on the walls of destroyed buildings, we are telling the world that underneath these buildings there are people who have died or who have left their homes. It shows you that there was injustice here, just like there’s injustice in America,” Asmar told The National.

In other parts of the world, artists and entertainers are using their platforms to show support for the movement. In Germany, four young soccer players took to the field with messages of support for George Floyd.

First professional hat trick ??. A bittersweet moment personally as there are more important things going on in the world today that we must address and help make a change. We have to come together as one & fight for justice. We are stronger together! ❤️ #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd ?? pic.twitter.com/ntOtwOySCO

— Jadon Sancho (@Sanchooo10) May 31, 2020

There were protests all over the world in support of police reform. In Denmark on Sunday, protesters gathered outside of the US Embassy with signs demanding justice for George Floyd and an end to police brutality. Similar scenes were reported outside of US embassies all over Europe, including London.

It is hard for anyone to deny the excessive force used by Minneapolis Police office and Derek Chauvin, who was seen on video kneeling on George Floyd’s back for nearly ten minutes.

In the initial video of the killing, which has now been seen by millions, Floyd can be heard pleading with the officer to get off his neck, and said multiple times that he couldn’t breathe.

A crowd of onlookers gathered over the several minutes that officer Derek Chauvin had Floyd needlessly pinned to the ground.

The bystanders began taking videos of the situation and telling people that he couldn’t breathe, but the officers assured them that he was going to be fine. After nearly ten minutes, Floyd lost consciousness and was then taken to a local hospital where he never woke up.

Security camera footage that was later obtained by CBS showed the initial moments of Floyd’s encounter with police, and Floyd was not showing any signs of resistance in that video either.