John,
This past weekend marked the five-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder — a pivotal moment in American history that sparked a necessary conversation about confronting the ugly reality of police brutality and the overarching role white supremacy continues to play in our society.
While George Floyd is not the first Black man to be murdered at the hands of police, his public killing collectively forced us to see the long and lasting history of white supremacy that has shaped every aspect of life in the United States.
Along with Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others, Floyd’s death exemplified the deadly consequences of systemic racism when left unchecked.
In the days and weeks that followed, millions of people took to the streets to protest across the U.S. and the world. Communities mobilized. People spoke out, listened harder, and demanded change. Some of this change has come, but much of the deep, structural work remains.
Black communities and other communities of color continue to face disproportionate harm — not just at the hands of law enforcement, but through ongoing inequities in healthcare, housing, education, and employment.
And while a lot seemingly changed during the summer of 2020, we now know this moment of national reckoning wasn’t to last.
From corporations walking back DEI commitments to Donald Trump’s reelection and his administration’s subsequent ongoing crusade against initiatives intended to equalize the playing field for marginalized communities, we are regressing from the promises we made five years ago, John.
Today, we’re remembering George Floyd for the life he lived and acknowledging that remembrance alone is not enough. We must act — with courage and consistency — to dismantle the systems, institutions, and societal norms that continue to perpetuate racism and white supremacy.
Thank you for your time today, John.
In solidarity,
LeftNet
