NEW YORK, N.Y. (April 20, 2021)—Democrats for Education Reform National President Shavar Jeffries released the following statement today in response to the conviction of Derek Chauvin of second degree murder for the killing of George Floyd.
“The jury reached the right verdict, and we hope the judge sentences Chauvin to a significant term that sends a strong signal to police officers throughout the country that Black lives do indeed matter, and that officers who senselessly murder Black people will pay a high price and will spend most of the rest of their lives behind bars.
It also is hopeful that scores of millions of people in our country, of diverse racial backgrounds, have raised their voice over the past several months to demand that this country take bold, aggressive action to root out the racism that infects too many of our institutions and aggressively pursue the anti-racist actions required for this country finally to vindicate its lofty ideals.
At the same time, the fact that we celebrate today over what should have been an obvious result—a murder conviction for the killing by strangulation of a handcuffed, unarmed human being who was choked for over nine minutes should be an afterthought—reminds us that justice is too often so illusory for Black Americans that even the most incremental form of it is a surprise and a cause for celebration. But we must take our wins as they come. This is a positive day, and I hope that all Americans of goodwill will use this episode as a launching pad in making our country truly a land of freedom, justice, and equity for all.”
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