When Derek Chauvin Was Found Guilty On All Three Charges Surrounding His Murder Of George Floyd, The

When Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all three charges surrounding his murder of George Floyd, the conversation found on Tumblr (and elsewhere online) reflected two major points:

This is not justice being served. There is no justice in the face of murder, and if there were, it certainly would not be found within the American carceral system. The verdict stemming from this trial will not stop the violence and oppression Black people face at the hands of an over-policed country.

“Black people don’t need reminders that Chauvin’s guilty verdict doesn’t mean the fight is over. It’s okay to celebrate small victories.”

These truths are not at odds with each other. They can, and will, co-exist.

Take a moment today to celebrate George Floyd and his beautiful family. Keep his little daughter in your mind and hearts. If you want to feel a bit of relief that at least one person was found guilty for their hateful, heinous crime—please do so. And then remember that it was just one person. Remember that if you are an ally and an accomplice, you must not stop learning. You must not stop fighting for real justice.

Accountability for police killings is rare:

Since 2005, 140 law enforcement officers have been arrested for on-duty manslaughter and murder. Only 8—5%—have been convicted.

And that doesn’t account for the 98% of police killings where there were no arrests for murder or manslaughter.

Black people are three times more likely to be killed by police

And then yesterday, roughly one hour after Nancy Pelosi thanked George Floyd for “sacrificing” his “life for justice,” police in Columbus, Ohio shot and killed 16-year-old Ma'Khia Bryant.

That is not what justice looks like.

Rest in power, George Floyd.

Rest in power, Ma’Khia Bryant.

More Posts from Taynbowswift and Others

taynbowswift

5 years ago

When the two musical geniuses you love THE MOST intertwine in the most beautiful display of love everrrrrrrr...people can say this is coincidence but A. coincidences are not real (only koincidences 😋) and B. Taylor is waaaaaay too smart and we know she is obsessed with 1975 and C. not the only 1975 reference on this album and others. For ex. robbers is/was her favourite song (matty dedicated it to her once when she was in inaudience), it is about passionate love destined for doom, Taylor “knew I was a robber”; Matty “just sat in self pity and cried in the car” when his love didn’t work out, Taylor “cried like a baby coming home from the bar”; matty “bite your face to spite your nose, 17 and a half years old”, Taylor “cut off my nose to spite my face” “it’s like I’m 17 nobody understands”...and for a stretch... matty in girls “a pair of frozen hands to hold”, Taylor “lost my gloves” (double work there, Carol ref also). And those are just ones I can pick off the top of my head without thinking too hard or actively listening for parallels. When you reference the band and especially the song playing when you were reputedly caught making out with your BFF...ummmmm? 👯‍♀️😘