As much as many of us knew of Chauvin’s guilt before his trial began, having the U.S. justice system render a conviction for his murdering of George Floyd is a watershed moment in our collective existence. For the first time in modern Minnesota history, a police officer is being held legally accountable with prison time for the death of a civilian, which comes as both a victory and an excruciating reality check.
At this moment, we lift up the victory painstakingly earned for the Floyd family. But we can not get lost in fleeting celebration, for accountability is merely one step in the long journey to justice. Not just justice for George Floyd, but for the multitude of Black Americans who did not rest easy last night, who awake this morning still with the terror of racism heavy on their minds, and who continue to be killed by law enforcement agents with impunity.
Consequently, we call on Americans to press into this moment as an opportunity to dig deeper into the work of uprooting and dismantling racism. Now more than ever, must we diligently pursue holding the culture, practices and procedures of racially biased law enforcement accountable. And we must deconstruct and reimagine the interlocking systems that have allowed such a lack of generational accountability to persist. Now, is the time to press further into the work of the Truth and Conciliation Commission.
If you have already pledged to this work, please share this pledge with your colleagues, friends and family. Moreover, commit to joining us June 16-18, 2021 as we host our inaugural Juneteenth Summit. During the summit, you will not only hear from national anti-racism thought leaders but will be equipped with tools and strategies essential for doing reconstructive and generative justice-centered work.
Let not the lives of the myriad Black Americans taken by the systems of the state be in vain. But let us willingly pursue the righteous work of justice.