Yesterday, former Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in the killing of George Floyd. Hetrick-Martin Institute hopes that this conviction offers Floyd’s family solace in a moment of continued and unimaginable grief that may dissipate, but remain unhealed.
Today, HMI continues in our quest for transformative justice. We are intentional in distinguishing that yesterday’s verdict centered on accountability, but the promise of tomorrow requires us to reimagine how we commune with and care for each other today.
HMI seeks to erect communities where all people’s most basic needs are met. We aim to empower all community members to move through conflict and unanticipated challenge with thoughtful and restorative practice. We contend that a world where in lieu of state apparatuses relying on power and threat of force to maintain safety, we cultivate community-centered and supportive processes that yield generative accountability is possible.
HMI dares our supporters and fellow service providers to see the future as one in which a Derek Chauvin trial wouldn’t exist because George Floyd wouldn’t just still be alive, but where he would be thriving. And we know that we can get there.
The Fight for Trans Lives Continues