Hate Doesn't Help: Newton Student Reacts To George Floyd's Death

NEWTON, MA — A Newton North High School freshman implored people to end hate after the death of George Floyd, who died after a police officer kneeled on his neck for 9 minutes in Minneapolis this week.

A video shows Floyd saying he can't breathe to the officer. Since his death, protests have broken out in cities across the United States.

Andrew Riebe, who goes by ThelilHazy on Instagram, shared a poem on social media and told Patch the death of Floyd and police brutality as a whole compelled him to do so — in between being stuck at home and distance learning because of the coronavirus.

"I wanted to use my voice to advocate to make change and make a call to action so that people of color, white people —anybody — would try [to make change]," he said. "Even if it's just a drawing. Just help. Everybody has that power."

Riebe who lives in Boston and is a METCO student, said he has come to realize that everyone can make a change since he began writing and making music. And that gave him the guts to read his poem so publicly.

"When everybody comes together for a cause it's worth it," he said.

"Don't let this go unnoticed," Riebe says in his video before launching into his poem.

Editor's Note: This video contains some explicit language.

Police departments across the country, including in Boston, expressed condolences to the Floyd family and indicated support for the Minneapolis police chief's decision to fire the four officers involved.

Minneapolis police identified the four officers as Derek Chauvin, who was caught on video with his knee on Floyd, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng.

Chauvin was the subject of a dozen complaints in his 19-years with the Minneapolis Police Department, according to NBC. He was charged with third degree murder Friday.

"I want everybody to know that hate brings more hate, it doesn't help," Riebe said.

As for the riots?

"I don't think the riots are the right way to go. I'm not going to say I don't agree with why they're rioting, but the more we riot, the harder they're going to clap back."

Read more: Boston Police Commissioner Calls George Floyd's Death "Damned Shame"

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).Have a press release you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how to post a press release, opinion piece.