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Sign lists rules for white people at George Floyd memorial

A sign erected where Black man George Floyd was killed by a police officer has a list of five rules for white people to encourage respect and peace.

The sign has emerged at George Floyd Square in the US city of Minneapolis, where ex-cop Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for nine-and-a-half minutes while he gasped that he "couldn't breathe".

Chauvin was found guilty of three charges he faced over the death of Floyd this week and is expected to be sentenced in about two months.

The spot where Floyd died has become a space for "community, public grief and protest", with a sign asking people to "enter with reverence, humility and openness, as an invited guest".

A sign erected at the George Floyd Square with rules for white people.
The sign at George Floyd Square encourages peace and respect. Source: Twitter

The sign then urges people to honour the space before listing rules specifically for white visitors.

The first rule asks people to "decentre" themselves while visiting the site.

"Listen, learn, mourn and witness. Remember you are here to support, not be supported," the first point on the list says.

The second requests people to be mindful of whether your volume, pace and movements are supporting or undermining efforts to decentre yourself.

The third rule urges people to seek to contribute to the energy of the space rather than "drain it".

"Bring your own processing to other white folks so that you will not harm BIPOC [Black Indigenous and People of Colour]," the sign states.

George Floyd wearing a hat and a shirt that says security.
George Floyd died in May 2020 at the hands of former police office Derek Chauvin. Source: AP

The fourth rule asks people to consider whether they need to take photographs at the site and post them.

"Do not take photos of other people without consent," the sign adds.

Lastly, white people are urged to speak up.

"If you witness white folks doing problematic things, speak up with compassion to take the burden off of Black folks and our siblings of colour whenever appropriate," the sign says.

"Seek to engage rather than escalate, so that it can be a learning moment rather than a disruption."

Twitter reacts to George Floyd Square rules

Many supported the rules that urged respect at the sacred spot while others were instead outraged.

“Nothing like trying to stir up more trouble! I can’t imagine what would happen if any place had a sign posted with special instructions for Black people,” one woman said.

"I thought this was about police brutality," another added.

"Treating races different purely based on their skin colour and having racialised instructions is bad, we've been through this already, it's not progressive to redo bad things," a third added.

'Sacred ground' deserving the respect of visitors

Others however supported the sign that ultimately encouraged respect and peace.

"Very respectful sign. Been there myself and it was very healing," one wrote on Twitter.

"Some people have no honour and respect, so sadly they need special instruction. Sorry, but this place has more than earned that right and deserves to be treated with the upmost of respect. It's sacred ground as far as I'm concerned," another said.

"White people need to know how to honour this man and the justice for him with a reverence that they can never truly understand," a third commented.

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