The historic murder and manslaughter conviction of Derek Chauvin is a welcome signal of justice for George Floyd, for Black communities long victimized by police violence, and for everyone who wants to live in an authentically safe, just and equitable America. The work of building an anti-racist justice system and healing communities, though, has far to go. LISC is committed to it for the long haul.
Photo by Jéan Béller on Unsplash, Cup Foods, Chicago Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, USA
The verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin is a sign of accountability in action, and we welcome it. The convictions of murder and manslaughter will never bring George Floyd back to his loved ones, but the jury in Hennepin County rendered a decision that upholds his humanity and his rights, and those of our communities and our nation. Especially in the Twin Cities, this decision is a signal to residents that their voices are heard and that Black lives matter.
Still, in spite of this positive development, the journey to authentic American justice is a long one, and we are only at its beginning. We know that our current justice and law enforcement systems chronically undermine the liberty, safety and wellbeing of Black, Brown and Indigenous Americans. For this one conviction, there are thousands and thousands of cases where justice has not been served. Where the racist underpinnings of the system ensure that it cannot be relied on. Where over-policing and police brutality against Black, Brown and Indigenous people are accepted as the status quo.
Changes in the justice system alone will not bring about the world we want and deserve. Ready access to quality housing, education, employment and healthcare are among the basic building blocks of an equitable society.
As an organization, we stand in solidarity with the families and communities of those lost to police violence, for whom no guilty verdict can ever be justice enough. We are wholeheartedly committed to pushing for all the transformations that can promote true liberty and justice for all—in systems both public and private, and in every aspect of our lives.
Lisa L. Glover is the Interim President & CEO of LISC
Peter McLaughlin is the Executive Director of LISC Twin Cities