The murder of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis, United States, last May 25 is not an isolated event but the expression of a systemic social fact that affects all societies of the Americas.
That death, of an African-descendant at the hands of a white agent, has become a global event because it evokes the persistence and violence of racism in contemporary society and repeats a sequence of clearly identifiable violent acts against Afro, Latino and Indigenous people and collectivities in the United States and across the continent.
This has sparked a wave of protest and indignation not only in the country where it occurred but throughout the world. It has been expressed in mass mobilizations, in communiqués of civil society organizations, universities, international organizations, among others.
About LASA
The Latin American Studies Association (LASA) is the largest professional association in the world for individuals and institutions engaged in the study of Latin America. With over 13,000 members, over 60% of whom reside outside the United States, LASA is the one association that brings together experts on Latin America from all disciplines and diverse occupational endeavors, across the globe. LASA's mission is to foster intellectual discussion, research, and teaching on Latin America, the Caribbean, and its people throughout the Americas, promote the interests of its diverse membership, and encourage civic engagement through network building and public debate.
If you wish to interview a LASA Executive Council member, you can contact the LASA communications office at (412) 648-7929 or send an email to lasa@lasaweb.org.