ANCOR’s Statement on the Conviction of Derek Chauvin for the Murder of George Floyd

Equity demands justice, and accountability is only the first step.

Like others committed to racial justice, we breathed a sigh of relief following Tuesday’s announcement of the conviction of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd.

Above all, we are relieved that George Floyd’s killer won’t become another in a long list of names of people who walk freely with blood on their hands. The verdict reminds us that our criminal justice system can prove capable of bending toward righteousness, though we regret and must acknowledge that it took a murder this heinous, recorded on more than 10 minutes of video.

It also reminds us that the road to racial justice is grueling, and that none of us can throttle our efforts to guarantee justice for Black lives. Because true racial justice isn’t about convicting those who extinguish Black lives—it’s about those lives mattering before they’re cut short.

The day of Derek Chauvin’s conviction should be remembered as one day when justice was served. We extend our condolences to the family of George Floyd; he should still be alive, and we hope they find some comfort in the midst of their grief.

Yesterday’s conviction should also be a reminder that we are not powerless in the fight for racial justice. Today, we recommit to exercising our power in service of equity and justice for all.