Harlem, June 6. Photo: Anthony Geathers
Yesterday, April 20th, Derek Chauvin was found guilty for the murder of George Floyd.
However, we know that one guilty verdict is not justice. We can’t celebrate something that never should have happened in the first place. Today, we say her name, Ma’Khia Bryant. This 16-year-old girl from Columbus Ohio who was shot by police responding to a 911 call that she made. Her death at the hands of police occurred just 30 minutes before the verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin was announced.
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We do not trust our violent and anti-Black police and judicial systems to hold themselves accountable. Police reform is not enough. We must defund the police and shift resources to strengthen our communities. The work ahead is not just to speak out against racism but to be anti-racist. At Women’s Foundation California we remain steadfast in our commitment to repairing the violence and harm white supremacy has inflicted on communities of color. Together, we are building towards a world where our laws, our communities, and our culture honors and celebrates the human dignity of Black and brown lives.
We are holding space for the rage, grief, and anger that so many of us are feeling in the face of generations of racialized police violence. We are keeping George Floyd and his family in our thoughts and in our hearts today and in the many days to come.
Justice looks like a world where Black Lives Matter. We are still seeking justice.