Yesterday, April 20, 2021, Derek Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter for the death of George Floyd. This verdict is a step forward in history towards accountability.

Justice in cases of police brutality is not a given. George Floyd’s murder was recorded by a brave 17-year-old named Darnella Frazier and the nation watched it in outrage and demanded accountability. This jury provided that. 

The compounding grief over the deaths of Black, Latino, Asian, Indigenous and otherwise non-white people in this country has reached a deafening roar. It’s difficult to come to terms with these deaths when they so often happen at the hands of the police and end with no justice in the courts.

While Mr. Floyd’s case has ended with accountability, our fight towards justice in so many other cases is not over. Missions Inc. Programs is committed to continuing to be a part of this conversation and working towards undoing the systems that allow these deaths to occur unchecked.

Our partnerships with police departments allows us to do important work in domestic violence and chemical dependency. Because of this relationship, we recognize that we are intertwined with the policing structure, both the good and bad of those systems. Our relationships with police allow us to advocate for equitable treatment of not only our clients but also for our community. As an anti-violence organization, we will continue to advocate for non-violence wherever violence exists, including in police systems.

The fight towards police accountability and justice for those who have died at the hands of the police is not over after yesterday’s verdict, it’s just beginning.