I wish I could find joy in Derek Chauvin's triple guilty verdict earlier today. Don't get me wrong. Today's historic verdict was the right one. It was the only verdict possible, and yet it was the verdict many of us believed might have a different outcome.
How many times have we seen justice not awarded? How many black men (and women) have been killed at the hands of the police and when facing a jury gotten off with nary a slap on the wrist? I suspect we all feared that would happen one more time today.
Joy? No. Mr. George Floyd died. The man should not have died, but he did. He was wantonly killed by a police officer, Derek Chauvin, who lost sight of his job, but more importantly, his humanity.
What I can find in this verdict is a resolute satisfaction knowing justice has been set in motion.
Perhaps this verdict will send the message that brutality from the hands of those whose motto "to serve and protect" can once again be realized. Maybe this verdict will see that accountability can be dealt. Maybe this verdict will award the mantra 'black lives matter' the beacon of hope it so rightly deserves and earned.
Today's verdict was correct, gutwrenching, nervewracking, necessary, and up to the moment we all heard it, far from certain. And I believe it will serve as a step towards healing.
Joy? No. Elation? Also no. Celebratory? Yes, only in the fact that, for this significant moment in time, justice has been realized, but not yet complete. Ask Floyd's family how their lives have changed. For now, I am sure some hope has shown its face, but their prayers have been only partially answered.
In two months, Chauvin will be sentenced. For now, we will all have to wait and see if accountabilty will be realized too. Joy? Maybe then.
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