On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was murdered in the streets of Minneapolis by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. In a video which captured Mr. Floyd’s agonizing final minutes, the world witnessed Chauvin kneeling on Mr. Floyd’s neck for over 9 minutes, brutally robbing Mr. Floyd of his life. Today, a jury confirmed what we all already know: that Chauvin is guilty of murder.
We at AAOP greet this verdict with relief, but not with celebration. Today’s decision does not bring Mr. Floyd back to life. Today’s decision does not erase the collective trauma our communities have experienced since last summer, and in the aftermath of too many murders before. And today’s decision does not meaningfully change the way that our current law enforcement structures continue to inflict violence upon Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian, Queer, Mentally Ill, and Disabled bodies. We in Minnesota were horrifically reminded of how little has changed since Mr. Floyd’s murder when another Black man, 20 year-old Daunte Wright, was murdered by police on April 11, 2021.
What gives us hope is not our legal system, or any system, but our communities. In the direct aftermath of Mr. Floyd’s murder, and in all the months that have followed, our communities have stood up for justice and come together in solidarity like never before. We are in awe of how individuals, groups, and especially our youth have boldly imagined and are fighting to create new paradigms for safety and community care. We stand with the courageous protesters who have put their bodies on the line to build a better world for us and future generations, even in the face of a militarized anti-protest response from our government and law enforcement that violates every principle of justice and freedom that we hold dear.
Today’s verdict is not the end of our work, but rather the beginning. We at AAOP are committed to continuing to support Mr. Floyd’s family and our community as they call for justice in the form of conviction and structural change. We want to remind folks to be aware of the upcoming summer trial of former officers Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng, and Thomas Lane, who were complicit in the murder of Mr. Floyd by Chauvin. We also want to draw attention to the ongoing Yes 4 Minneapolis campaign, which is engaging in vital work to change Minneapolis’ public safety structures and systems. It is through initiatives like Yes 4 Minneapolis that our communities are transforming grief and rage into powerful, transformative, and healing action.
We encourage our AAOP community to continue to engage with this work, and to join this work if they have not done so already. If the events of this past year have taught us anything, it is that we are our own best hope for change, and when we come together as communities and individuals, there is nothing we cannot accomplish. Today, it feels appropriate to rest, reflect, and to remember George Floyd. Tomorrow, the work continues.