Talk:I can't breathe

This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the I can't breathe article.
This is not a forum for general discussion of the article's subject.

Put new text under old text. Click here to start a new topic.
New to Wikipedia? Welcome! Learn to edit; get help.

Article policies

Find sources: Google (books · news · scholar · free images · WP refs) · FENS · JSTOR · TWL

faq page

Frequently asked questions

Q1: Does it have to say "white" police officer?

A1: Yes, because almost all reliable sources emphasize the significance of this fact.

Q2: I read some information on the web that isn't in this article!

A2: When proposing anything to be added to the article you need to cite a reliable source; secondary sources are generally preferred over primary.

Q3: This article is biased (for/against), or (whitewashes/blames), (Floyd/police)!

A3: See our neutral point of view policy. Complaints of bias must be accompanied by specific concerns or suggestions for change. Vague, general statements don't help.

Q4: Why is this article calling it a murder instead of a death/killing?

A4: As a person was formally convicted for murder in a court of law, the article uses the term "murder", in line with the community guidance at WP:MURDERS.

Q5: Wasn't Floyd killed near a store called Cub Foods, not Cup Foods?

A5: The store is Cup Foods, and is not affiliated with the Cub Foods store chain.

Q6: Why does the article use such a graphic photo? Isn't it in poor taste?

A6: The lead image was determined by the community in a formal Request for Comment process. The RfC reached an "overwhelming consensus" that "...the image, despite it being traumatizing, should be kept per WP:NOTCENSORED, as it is an appropriate representation of the topic."

Q7: Why was my request or comment removed?

A7: Because of the frequency of meritless and disruptive requests, any further requests to describe Floyd's murder using other terms (e.g. "death", "overdose") or to change the name of the article accordingly will be removed without consideration, unless the request complies with all relevant Wikipedia guidelines and essays, including WP:Requested moves, WP:Common name, WP:Article titles, WP:Naming conventions (violence and deaths), and WP:Reliable sources. Anyone removing such requests should include a link to this FAQ in their edit summary.

Q8: Why do we not call the protests riots?

A8: Because most reliable sources call them protests, not riots.

Q9: Did he not die of a drug overdose?

A9: No, whilst fentanyl was a contributory factor, his death certificate lists his cause of death as "cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression".

Black Lives Matter High‑importance

	This article is within the scope of WikiProject Black Lives Matter, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Black Lives Matter on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.Black Lives MatterWikipedia:WikiProject Black Lives MatterTemplate:WikiProject Black Lives MatterBlack Lives Matter articles
High	This article has been rated as High-importance on the importance scale.
	This article was created or improved during WikiProject Black Lives Matter's June 2020 edit-a-thon.

African diaspora Low‑importance

	This article is within the scope of WikiProject African diaspora, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of African diaspora on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.African diasporaWikipedia:WikiProject African diasporaTemplate:WikiProject African diasporaAfrican diaspora articles
Low	This article has been rated as Low-importance on the project's importance scale.

Law Enforcement Low‑importance

	Law portal This article is within the scope of the WikiProject Law Enforcement. Please Join, Create, and Assess.Law EnforcementWikipedia:WikiProject Law EnforcementTemplate:WikiProject Law EnforcementLaw enforcement articles
Low	This article has been rated as Low-importance on the importance scale.

Linguistics Low‑importance

	Linguistics portal This article is within the scope of WikiProject Linguistics, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of linguistics on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.LinguisticsWikipedia:WikiProject LinguisticsTemplate:WikiProject LinguisticsLinguistics articles
Low	This article has been rated as Low-importance on the project's importance scale.

Politics: American Low‑importance

	Politics portal This article is within the scope of WikiProject Politics, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of politics on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.PoliticsWikipedia:WikiProject PoliticsTemplate:WikiProject Politicspolitics articles
Low	This article has been rated as Low-importance on the project's importance scale.
	This article is supported by American politics task force.

United States: History Low‑importance

	United States portal This article is within the scope of WikiProject United States, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of topics relating to the United States of America on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the ongoing discussions. Template Usage Articles Requested! Become a Member Project Talk Alerts United StatesWikipedia:WikiProject United StatesTemplate:WikiProject United StatesUnited States articles
Low	This article has been rated as Low-importance on the project's importance scale.
	This article is supported by WikiProject U.S. history.

John Neville

I see no one has objected. I figured after he was on the front page of the Winston-Salem Journal day after day he must be notable, maybe even notable enough for his own article.— Vchimpanzee • talk • contributions • 21:32, 6 August 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Lead Image

In my opinion, the image showcasing children is an implicit appeal to emotion--sensationalism. Thus it violates our NPOV. Thoughts? DMT biscuit (talk) 21:46, 7 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Images always have a stronger appeal to emotions than text has. These children are not portrayed as helpless, but as active, so the emotion is not very strong. I don't see a problem here. --Rsk6400 (talk) 06:20, 8 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Observation

My understanding of the physiology of vocalization is that in order to verbalize a statement such as “I can’t breathe”, one must have a patent airway. Is this true? Bungstnk (talk) 23:23, 20 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

It is not that he was getting no air, because he was. He was not getting enough air to survive, causing him to feel he couldn't breathe. PiplupFan510 (talk) 18:09, 9 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Wrong place?

Why is this saying this related to NY? This happened in Minnesota. 174.59.50.114 (talk) 21:57, 8 December 2022 (UTC)[reply]

First Athletes?

Derrick Rose (NBA) was the first athlete to display the message - not the Notre Dame Womens team 2405:6E00:289:CCF2:E555:9E6:9E40:84F4 (talk) 13:44, 21 September 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Instructive. Anyone who commits a crime while having health problems puts their life in danger... --Matrixloader (talk) 20:21, 16 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

"Anyone who commits a crime while having health problems" You do not have to commit a crime. The perception that you did is apparently enough to be attacked. Dimadick (talk) 02:52, 17 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I know. I'm not for criminals. I am for people to evaluate the consequences of their actions more. Matrixloader (talk) 09:53, 18 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]