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Association of Indian American Doctors Condemn Police Brutality, Supporting Protests and Calls for Justice

An association of Indian American doctors is expressing outrage over structural racism in the U.S. and the killing of George Floyd and other Black Americans who have died at the hands of police brutality. 

The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), the largest organization representing Indian American doctors, issued a statement on Monday extending solidarity to the nationwide protests and condemning police brutality, reports The Economic Times.

“As American Physicians of Indian-origin, we are unanimously outraged by George Floyd’s death and the long history of racial discrimination that lives in this country.” AAPI President Dr. Suresh Reddy stated .

George Floyd, 46, was killed on May 25 after a White police officer kneeled on his neck, ignoring Floyd’s cries that he couldn’t breath. Three other officers were also at the scene–one being Tou Thao, a Hmong American. 

The image of Thao turned away as Derek Chauvin, the White officer, exercised deadly force against Floyd for more than eight minutes is being described by activists as a symbol of Asian American complicity in anti-blackness. 

“We stand in solidarity with peaceful protestors across the nation condemning the horrific death of George Floyd and calling out systemic racism and excessive violence by our nation’s police,” Dr. Ravi Kolli, Secretary of AAPI, added.

Kolli further called upon police departments across the country to “meaningfully address the twin problems of systemic racism and excessive, disproportionate use of force by officers in their ranks, working with local communities to end both, and hold accountable the police officers with misconduct and excessive force.” 

AAPI also supported a statement from American Medical Association (AMA), which describes the “police violence as a striking reflection of our American legacy of racism”

Health care workers–who have long been on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic–are also showing their support for the Black Lives Matter movement by joining in the nationwide solidarity protests, reports Prevention

In addition to marching, groups of health care workers are also reportedly providing medical aid to protestors suffering injuries from the tear gas and rubber bullets used against protestors by law enforcement officials, according to Prevention.

“As immigrants to the US, our families may not always understand this history, but we join in solidarity with the minority communities and call for justice for George Floyd and for many others who have lost their lives to police brutality,” Dr. Namratha R. Kandula, Chair of AAPI’s Diversity and Equity Committee stated.

All four officers were fired the day after Floyd’s death. Derek Chauvin,who placed his knee on Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes, was charged on Wednesday with a more serious count of second-degree murder and the three other officers on the scene were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder, reports CNN. However, in demanding justice for George Floyd, Floyd’s family is calling for Chauvin to be charged with first-degree murder. 


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