George Floyd Verdict – Not Justice but May Finally Signal an End to Police Impunity

(Asbury Park – April 20, 2021) – What may be most significant about the conviction in the murder of George Floyd, is that American’s are finally witnessing police impunity falter. What remains most elusive is true justice as systems nationwide churn out atrocities of police and judicial violence on a daily basis.

It is critical to remember that the “justice system” did not reach this result on its own. The police involved were not charged and arrested until protesters took to the street and confronted a system
designed to undermine human rights and devalue life for the sake of power. This was not a case of justice occurring within the system, rather this is a case of confronting injustice from the outside and forcing the system to concede. The nation nearly ripped itself apart at the seams screaming for justice for George Floyd, then came arrests, then a trial, then a verdict.

Justice will be realized when Americans, especially people of color and other targeted populations don’t have to first suffer grievous harm or lose their lives for there to be change. When laws of oppression such as the drug war, which produces police and judicial violence as a functional output, are abolished. When communities that call for a refund of their resources that have been deliberately directed away from their needs and instead leveraged against them via systemic police abuse, are embraced rather than scorned.

Help Not Handcuffs, Inc. wishes that today’s verdict brings some peace to George Floyd’s Family and also serves as a watershed moment in our nation and our world to bring about an end to police impunity,
oppressive policies and the realization of human rights.

Statements of Help Not Handcuffs, Inc. Trustees, Advisory Board Members and Advocates:

“I hope that the national outrage following George Floyd’s murder and the resulting change of direction that the “Justice System” was forced to follow, sends a clear signal to police, judges and prosecutors everywhere. The people involved in this struggle will not go quietly into the night, they will confront injustice and will persist through attrition and state violence until there is an end to impunity and true justice is realized.”

-Randy Thompson, CEO, Help Not Handcuffs, Inc.

Today’s verdict is significant but we will not have justice until police everywhere are held accountable as in the unnecessary and unjustifiable murder of my father Hasani Best in Asbury Park, NJ.

-Dayvon White, Son of Hasani Best
www.HelpNotHandcuffs.org

“While the verdict of guilty gives us reason to celebrate, the work of justice still continues. Now, more than ever, we need to understand how the presence of police in our schools affects our Black and Brown students and elevate the voices of youth that are calling for police-free schools.”

-Melissa Tomlinson, Executive Director Badass Teachers Association

“Police have killed approximately 1,000 people per year (roughly 3 deaths per day) while the legal system incarcerates and controls millions of other people especially black and brown people. One
conviction will not solve these problems – but we cannot deny that this decision may bring some solace to the family and loved ones of George Floyd, including his daughter Gianna, and hope to many others
whose loved ones have experienced the brutality of the system.

-Lama Hasoun Ayoub, Ph.D. Candidate, Wayne State University

“What I learned running for local office is that there is a unified interest between the major political parties and police unions to silence people who speak out on the issue of police violence. Republicans and Democrats alike came out in full force to condemn and silence the discussion of police criminality. The lesson is not about that campaign but rather that we must defeat the political culture that feels its more beneficial to accept police atrocities and abuses rather than support candidates aggressively seeking to end them.”

– Jeana Sager

“While it may certainly be a well deserved victory we cannot forget that George Floyd like Emmit Till are
forever gone. We can honor their loss by continuing to pursue long overdue changes.

-Grace Rotundo