When I got in my car to go pick up the pizzas for Magic Pizza Tuesday, I was delightfully presented with some wonderful news on the radio-- Derek Chauvin, the police officer who knelt on the neck of George Floyd for almost 9 minutes (effectively killing him) was convicted on all three charges (manslaughter, 2nd degree murder, and 3rd degree murder). Of the 140 police officers arrested on murder or manslaughter charges related to on-duty shootings in the past 16 years, he is one of only 8 who have actually been convicted. I breathed a sign of relief, as I know many, many others did (in fact, the first couple of people interviewed on NPR were asked how their felt and they all said "relieved"). I'm not naïve and I know much more work needs to be done in this world in terms of racial justice, but this was definitely at least a step in the right direction. I hope that this guilty verdict is the start of something that will truly change America and the experience of Black Americans, who have been brutalized, their lives trivialized, and their right to justice denied since they stepped foot on this continent centuries ago. So my delight is definitely tinged and blunted by the tragedy of not only Floyd's death, but the deaths of all those unjustly taken by law enforcement and the fact that racial inequality still remains deeply rooted in American society.
A few good quotes I found while reading the news:
Gloria Browne-Marshall, civil rights attorney and professor of constitutional law at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said that the Chauvin trial was a "rare example of 'zealous prosecution' in hundreds of years where prosecutors have failed to prosecute White people for crimes against Black people."
Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) said, "Today, a jury delivered justice and accountability for the murder of George Floyd. While I feel a sense of relief about today’s verdict, systemic racism and disparate policing still exist in the US —necessitating the urgent passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act."
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said, "The jury has reached a just verdict. But nothing will bring back George Floyd or all those who should still be alive. We must move urgently to defeat systemic racism in all its forms and the Senate must pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act."
Ben Crump, the Floyd family attorney, said, "Let's pause for a moment to proclaim this historical moment -- not just for the legacy of George Floyd but for the legacy of America. The legacy of trying to make America for all Americans. This is a victory for those who champion humanity over inhumanity."
With delight (and hope),
♥Jamie
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