Statement from the NC Justice Center: This is just the beginning of the journey toward justice, not the end

RALEIGH (April 21, 2021) – Yesterday’s verdict achieves some measure of accountability for the murder of Mr. George Floyd. However, this is just the beginning of the journey toward justice, not the end.

The verdict does not compensate for the loss to George Floyd’s family, nor remove the trauma experienced by communities in recent days, months, and the centuries before that. Systemic reform of our nation’s law enforcement practices and criminal justice system, including expedited passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020, and dismantling of the racist and particularly the anti-Black practices that pervade many institutions must occur. The goal must be ending the increasing and all too frequent incidents of excessive use of force and violence against Black and brown people.

On average, more than three people have been killed at the hands of the police in the U.S. every day since the case against Derek Chauvin began on March 29 until the final day of testimony. More than 60 people in total, more than half of whom were Black and Latino. Three people every single day. Witness Daunte Wright and 15-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant, who was killed by police in Ohio just yesterday afternoon.

Yesterday’s verdict speaks of some modicum of justice and relief in one trial. We are still processing and reflecting on what the verdict and its outcome mean for our people, our nation, our state, our communities, and our organization. What we do with the verdict as a nation will speak far more loudly and tell the story of whether justice will prevail tomorrow.