AFT-Oregon is relieved that the policeman who murdered George Floyd is being held accountable, and hopeful that this verdict will be a sea change moment in the struggle for equal justice for all people. We also recognize that this verdict is not justice. Portland Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty’s statement puts it very eloquently.
“...this is not justice. The guilty verdict is obviously the correct decision and it is historic. We all saw what happened to George Floyd on video. It’s rare that police officers are brought to trial over these killings and rarer still that the officer is found guilty. But this verdict does not bring George Floyd back. It does not make his family whole again. It does not make the community whole."
“In a just world, George Floyd would never have been unjustly killed by a police officer having a knee to his neck for almost nine minutes. In the words of Cornell West, ‘Justice is what love looks like in public.’”
AFT-Oregon is also moved by George Floyd’s brothers' statements.
"Today we are able to breathe again,”
"Ten miles away from here, Mr. Wright, Daunte Wright, he should still be here."
"We always have to understand we have to march, we have to do this for life, we have to protest."
"I'm not just fighting for George anymore, I'm fighting for everybody around this world.”
- Philonise Floyd
“I’d like to thank all the people who stayed in the streets, marching night and day, the people of Portland stayed in the streets for 83 days. I’m thankful for everyone who stayed in the streets with us, encouraging us.”
- Rodney Floyd
Finally, a word from our AFT President.
“The urgent matter before us is to dismantle the systemic racism that plagues us—to make the fight for anti-racism and equity a cornerstone of everything we do.”
- Randi Weingarten
