In a span of a few days, the death of a black man, George Floyd, with a white policeman’s knee around his neck became a story of America’s painful racial history and a rallying point for action that resonated far beyond Minnesota. This event broke into politics, business, culture, and sports, and its impact has spread across continents, sparking debates and reflections throughout the world.

Following the example in “The Global Legacy of George Floyd”; in New Zealand, the death of Floyd changed the political views of many regarding police brutality and armed law enforcers. The maneuvers used by police officers to subdue someone by the neck sparked protests throughout the Oceanic nation demanding solutions for structural discrimination.

Protests have a big impact both locally and globally. On a larger scale, many political leaders have spoken against police brutality, while creating laws and policies to protect those affected. On a smaller scale, many local police departments addressed the situation also addressing changes to ensure police liability. While the support may not be universally promoted by every party, most parties support the social movements against social discrimination.

Another example of a movement that began in one country and sparked a similar movement in another is the recent Hong Kong protests. Following the introduction of a government-proposed extradition bill, many Hong Kong citizens went the streets to express their discontent with the government. This event is tightly connected to the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, which grants complete autonomy to Hong Kong until 2047.

Many reactions were formed, with many governments speaking out against China’s involvement in the violent events in Hong Kong. Also, just like Floyd’s death, it sparked many solidarity protests around the world, especially in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Taiwan. These events show how interconnected humanity is, and how many are willing to speak against authoritative injustices.