Once again, our hearts break after the murder of a black person killed by systemic racism and police brutality in our nation. We agonize over the loss of George Floyd, just weeks after the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and too many other black Americans.
In response to this latest murder, activists have taken to the streets, campaigns have been created to support the people of Minneapolis, and calls have been made for systemic change. At the same time, the President of the United States has threatened to use deadly force against protesters. Non-violent demonstrators have been injured by police officers, journalists have been arrested while covering the uprisings, and people have been more outraged by property damage than the destruction of black lives.
We cannot look at this tragedy as a one-off event. Systemic racism has oppressed black and brown people throughout every segment of our society, and especially in the criminal justice system.