A Continued Call for Justice
A Continued Call for Justice
People often refer to the “racial reckoning of last summer,” sparked by the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. We know however that this reckoning has not passed and that violence against our Black, Brown, Indigenous and AAPI communities continues to happen daily.
After one year of waiting and three grueling weeks of re-living through the trauma of George Floyd’s gruesome murder, the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial and today’s news of the three other former officers’ indictment bring us a glimpse of hope, a slight sense of relief and a moment to exhale.
Although these are significant step forwards, we cannot yet claim victory or pretend that this symbolizes the abolishment of decades of systemic oppression and killing of our youth and family members.
We must continue to march forward in action. We cannot wait another year for another 38 witnesses and a group of experts to take the stand on our behalf and validate what our communities have known to be true for so long: systemic racism, white supremacy, and police brutality have targeted, intimidated, and oppressed our Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities.
With a sense of urgency, we demand greater accountability from leaders and more investment in systems of community care. We will always advocate for community-led solutions: those who are most impacted by systems should be at the decision-making table, with their experiences centered and uplifted.
The disregard for our youth and communities has torn families apart in an inequitable system under the guise of due process that is not equal and just for all. Communities of color continue to be categorized as lesser and often assumed to be guilty before proving innocence.
We stand in solidarity with the families and communities of Adam Toledo, Ma’Khia Bryant, and Daunte Wright while we confront our own local injustices with the loss of Anthony Guzman, Jennifer Vazquez, and Jesus Montes. We mourn alongside the AAPI community for the uptick in targeted violence, and we remember that our fight for justice includes liberation for all people: we are stronger together.
Let us be relentless on the path towards social justice and let our actions be bold as we pave the way for the next generation. In a society where our mere existence is an act of defiance, we must continue to uplift marginalized voices, to march, and to advocate for change and social justice locally and nationally.
WE do NOT stop here!
Adelante,
The SOMOS Mayfair Team