“You were told Mr. George Floyd died because his heart was too big. The truth of the matter is the reason George Floyd is dead is because Derek Chauvin’s heart was too small.” – Jerry Blackwell, Special Prosecutor
The eyes of the world have been on our City as the Chauvin trial unfolded. We all sat breathless yesterday as the verdict was read. There was a collective exhale as the defendant, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, was found guilty on all three counts. Yes, it feels like justice has been served – the system worked, and Chauvin will serve time for George Floyd’s murder.
Our collective exhale is brief, however. This victory, though significant, is just one small step in the right direction. The outcome of the State of Minnesota vs. Chauvin case is a promising sign that justice may be served in the many other similar situations where police have behaved unjustly. We hope this decision has created momentum that will continue to help change the systems themselves so that law enforcement is fair and equitable across this nation.
We at The Bridge extend our thoughts to the Floyd family, hoping they have received some measure of peace at the verdict. We applaud Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Special Prosecutor Jerry Blackwell and their legal team for the excellent case they brought before the court. We also salute the witnesses who courageously took the stand and gave their accounts of the crime, reliving those traumatic moments so justice could be served.
Since that fateful day last May, more people than ever are making their voices heard in protest of the unequal and unjust treatment of Black and Brown people; many now recognize that the system of white supremacy extends beyond law enforcement and underpins society as a whole in ways we never before recognized, even touching us in our homes, at work, and as we go about our lives. We at The Bridge join those raised voices and recommit to serving youth experiencing homelessness, and as we do so, examine and eliminate inequities in how we fulfill this mission.
In solidarity,
Racial Justice Cohort
The Bridge for Youth
