Statement on Derek Chauvin guilty verdict, continued fight for justice for all Black people

For Immediate Release
April 20, 2021

Contact:
Alex Rossman
arossman@mlpp.org
517-775-9053

Michigan League for Public Policy statement on Derek Chauvin guilty verdict, continued fight for justice for all Black people

LANSING—The Michigan League for Public Policy issued the following statement on the guilty verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial announced today. The statement can be attributed to League President and CEO Gilda Z. Jacobs.

“I hope this verdict can provide some semblance of peace and healing for George Floyd’s family and friends, for the scores of other Black family members and friends who have lost someone they cared about to police violence, and for the Black and brown people and their allies of all races and ethnicities around the state, country and world who were praying for the best but preparing for the worst. Sadly, today’s verdict cannot bring George Floyd back to life. But it can show that George Floyd’s life mattered, that taking it violently and blatantly has consequences, and that Derek Chauvin must be held accountable for his actions.

“But today’s verdict still only amounts to one step toward justice and accountability. There cannot be justice when innocent Black and brown people are killed. The surprise by many at the jury’s guilty verdict is very telling. It’s hard to trust in a justice system whose power often goes unchecked and that lacks accountability for harm inflicted while criminalizing poverty and perpetuating racial disparities. And the recent police killings of Daunte Wright and 13-year-old Adam Toledo show that police violence continues to pose a real threat to all Black and brown people of all ages.

“As a society, we still have so much work to do in policy and policing reform to make sure that Black and brown people are afforded the same protections as White people in their interactions with the police. With the news today, let’s commit to the work that is necessary to bring about actual justice for all Black people.”

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The Michigan League for Public Policy, www.mlpp.org, is a nonprofit policy institute focused on economic opportunity for all. It is the only state-level organization that addresses poverty in a comprehensive way.