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This is actually a pretty good analysis. I think the George Floyd protests and what makes the outrage different this time is several factors coming together in a perfect storm.
- The shooting of Breonna Taylor in Kentucky on March 13 had just started to gain nation-wide attention in late May when the findings of the investigation had been released. No action against the cops had been recommended yet at that point, but the leaked details of the case were damning.
- The shooting of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia on May 7th by ex-cops also gained nation-wide attention. It was caught on video but was not all that clear and was shaky.
- The pandemic lockdown, resulting in more people with more time watching the news and youtube
- The frustration of the lockdown making people irritable and ansty
- The killing of George Floyd was caught on video very clearly by several people with good cameras for a full 9 minutes. It was like a snuff film. And following on the heels of two or three other high profile police killings, it was the straw that broke the camel's back, as Floyd's death, especially in the way he died which was somewhat similar to the way Eric Garner died. People had had enough. It was like the fuse that lit the exploding bomb of outrage over police killings during the past 7 or 8 years when so many killings have been caught on camera. This one was in 4k and unambiguous. Everyone watched in horror for over 8 minutes as Floyd whimpered for his mama with his last breath.
- But instead of thinking 'here we go again' (at another police killing) and holding candlelight vigils, people just snapped like caged animals.