As we heave a collective sigh of relief following the Derek Chauvin verdict, we must remember justice is more than one verdict in one trial. The criminal legal system is not where justice for George Floyd, justice for countless others, justice in this moment, begins or ends. It is simply a stop on a longer, more difficult, more painful journey.
While this verdict no doubt provides some measure of justice and accountability to Mr. Floyd’s family and community, it does not bring him back. Just as this verdict does not bring back Daunte Wright or Adam Toledo or Alton Sterling or Eric Garner or Breonna Taylor or Philando Castile or Trayford Pellerin or Elijah McClain or Oscar Grant, or any of the countless others.
We continue to witness communities of color targeted, brutalized and violated by law enforcement across the country. Law enforcement interactions in poor communities, communities of color are too often fatal.This fleeting moment of satisfaction must not lead to a new complacency. We should not raise a fist and say, “The system worked.” Yes, a jury did the right thing. But, it is too easy to write off what we know is a systemic problem of state-sponsored violence against poor people and people of color as “a few bad apples” or an “aberration” or a “lapse in training.”
Real justice, equity, and fairness will only be realized when the systems of oppression, built on racism and white supremacy, are rooted out. We must fight against the systems and structures that cause harm, grief and suffering. This is one step in the long fight for racial equity and justice in America. This should also signal a turning point in our relationship with law enforcement. No longer can we accept the needless killing of Black and Brown people, or the disparate treatment of communities of color, and consequently, we cannot accept a lack of accountability of those in power.
We wish Mr. Floyd’s family peace and healing. But, we echo their forceful demands to use this moment for a more meaningful movement toward justice, equity, and fairness. We have more work to do and more change to make.
