Cayuga Centers is encouraged by the jury’s decision finding Derek Chauvin guilty on all three counts and acknowledges the pain, anxiety and trauma the trial has had on all. Our hearts are with George Floyd’s family, friends, and community and we hope that the verdict gives them a moment of comfort and peace — though no verdict will ever bring George Floyd back to them. While this conviction is a good step, it is only one step and a rare step indeed. We know the work to end systemic racism and the violence imposed in Black communities at the hands of the police is far from over.
Derek Chauvin is being held accountable.The recurring murders of people of color continue to feel like impunity because police officers have been held accountable so infrequently.
The outcome of this trial should not have been a surprise, a shock, or a relief. Accountability should be expected and should be something that Black communities are able to take for granted. Despite this conviction, sadly we note that Derek Chauvin is keeping his pension. If pension loss was a consequence, such a consequence might actually impact the behavior of individual police officers. And an end to qualified immunity for police officers would make accountability less abstract and more of a reality.
We can take this moment to acknowledge that in this instance the system worked and the right thing was done – but we cannot take this instance as an indication of future outcomes. We can’t lose sight that there is an enormous amount of work needed to analyze and reform broken systems that ignore, target, and undermine our communities of color. To do this, we must finally acknowledge the “centrality of slavery to our national narrative”. We are long past the time for words and must see concrete actions if these senseless murders are to stop.
We call on our state and federal government to enact changes that promote safety and well-being in communities through trauma-informed, strengths-based approaches, and restorative practices. We need to demilitarize our approach to policing and create a reality where true peace officers would operate.
We are committed to doing our part as a community-based provider of child and family services, employer and neighbor. We need to change and change now.
Thank you,
Edward Myers Hayes President and CEO
