With today’s guilty verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin, we bear witness to a pivotal moment in American history.
We recognize, however, that this is not a time for celebration. Our nation still has work ahead of us to advance the cause of justice for all people in this country, regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion, sexual preference, gender identity, or disability.
But… today’s verdict did establish accountability. And accountability is the first step toward justice.
George Floyd’s murder was a flash point for how we look at race and justice in America. The videos of his murder shocked the world. They shined a light on police brutality and the need for police reform, of which our fellow citizens of color were already keenly aware.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of George Floyd. We hope — at the very least — that the end of this trial provides a sense of closure for them.
Let us not fall prey to a short attention span, however. Black lives still matter.
Support for the Black Lives Matter movement has reached every corner of this country. And we must commit to call out and eliminate racism, discrimination, racist violence, and other acts of harm where we find them.
