Derek Chauvin, the police officer who murdered George Floyd last May, was found guilty of both counts of murder and one count of manslaughter this afternoon.  Although this comes as good news, it confirms what we already knew – that Chauvin was guilty – and comes to us too late, after too many BIPOC have fallen to State violence and police murder.  This is only a moment of justice and does not signify a just system.  There is still a lot of work to be done and there are still too many victims that deserve this minimal form of justice.

Across the nation, as people are anticipating protests to unfold regardless of how the verdict was to be found, our State has reinforced its military presence at home, especially in Minneapolis and Washington, D.C.  The conversation has already split the topic into “peaceful protesting” on the one hand and “rioting” on the other.  These are not signs of victory but a system in crisis, one that is aware of both its shortcomings and how long it took for such a gesture.  This verdict was the result of intense pressure from a broad array of grassroots groups, including the Left, which cannot relent after tonight.

We demand that Derek Chauvin receive the maximum sentence but also that this rare conviction  become the standard by which all future police officers are tried, judged, and sentenced.  Prosecutor Steve Schleicher made the argument that “[t]his wasn’t policing.  This was murder.”  Schleicher has it wrong – this is policing in America.  We cannot buy into the exceptional, “few bad apples” logic anymore.  If we’re to believe Schleicher, Floyd’s death will simply be another statistic.

Today’s verdict gave a modest amount of justice for George Floyd and his family. But real  justice would mean Floyd  would be alive now. And lasting justice for African Americans and other people of color would mean the end of violent policing and workplace racism, and the implementation of free education, accessible and affordable health care, fair and secure housing, and freedom from the everyday concerns of harassment.

We honor Floyd’s memory by continuing the struggle for full equality.

In Solidarity,
Michigan District, CPUSA

Image: Joe Brusky (CC BY-NC 2.0).