In Minneapolis, Minnesota, the United States, African-American George Floyd was the victim of a racist attack, causing an unforeseen backlash across the country. Anyone who did not want to remain silent on this murder in the United States took to the streets, and the struggle for equality and justice was met all over the world. The leading brands and chefs of the gastronomic world have not been indifferent to this racist murder.
The spread of the video of George Floyd lying face down on the ground in Minneapolis, where a policeman pressured his throat with his knee, sparked huge repercussions around the world. Reactions on social media soon took to the streets, turning into a protest in which people raised their voices for equality and justice. The harsh intervention of the police on people at the protests has led to increased reactions and the escalation of protests. Rising voices in Minneapolis turned into a challenge attended by famous names from across the world.
Floyd was a security guard at Conga Latina Bistro but he was unemployed and had a hard time with the COVID-19 virus, which has affected the United States in terms of social, economic and health. The chefs, who took care of their employees and their rights during the coronavirus process, remained the voice of equality and justice with the public, not remaining silent on the murder that followed Floyd’s murder this time. Executive chef of 3 Michelin-starred Atelier Crenn Dominique Crenn, hef of the 3-Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park Daniel Humm, chef of 3 Michelin-starred Alinea Grant Achatz, chef of 3 Michelin-starred French Laundry Thomas Keller, founder of WCK and successful chef José Andrés, pastry chef of 3 Michelin-starred El Celler de Can Roca Jordi Roca, 2 Michelin-starred Belcanto’s chef José Avillez, 2 Michelin-starred DANIEL’s chef Daniel Boulud, 2 Michelin-starred Blue Hill at Stone Bars’ chef Dan Barber, chef of 2 Michelin-starred DSTAgE Diego Guerrero, and many more chefs have shown their reactions in a variety of ways.
The protest in which white chef aprons are worn for peace and equality this time; 2 Michelin-starred Hélène Darroze, 2 James Beard Award-winning Edouardo Jordan, David Chang from Michelin-starred Momofuku, Michelin-starred Joris Bijdendijk, Michelin-starred George Mendes, chef and founder of the Rockpool Group Dining Neil Perry, Michelin-starred Clare Smith, Dave Mottershall, Marin Benn, Jock Zonfrillo, Jamie Oliver, Stephenie Izard, Bel Coelho, Roberta Sudbrack, Nilou Motamed and Daniel Burns, said ‘stop’ racism.