Statement on the Guilty Verdict of Derek Chauvin for the Murder of George Floyd

Photo: Daniel Arauz via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0).

The Catholic Committee of Appalachia joins the voices of those expressing relief at the guilty verdict of Derek Chauvin in the Minnesota trial for the murder of George Floyd in May 2020. We hope that this begins a new era of legal accountability in response to police brutality against people of color at the very least, and of a legal and law enforcement system that does not violate, but rather recognizes and upholds, human dignity.

There is still so much work to be done in the fight for racial justice, especially as it pertains to police brutality and violence against people of color, and to the racial bias exhibited by the police forces of the United States. As we said in our 2014 and 2020 statements,[1] white supremacy and white nationalism cannot and must not be tolerated in policing, in our churches, or in society at large. A culture of racism is harmful to all, both victims and perpetrators. CCA stands with families, witnesses to change, and all those fighting for justice, and we recommit ourselves to becoming an anti-racist organization. We are reminded again that white people, especially white Christians, need to sit in the discomfort of injustices not experienced first-hand, and to be active listeners to the stories, experiences, and guidance of Black people.

While the guilty verdict on all three charges was the best possible outcome for the Chauvin trial, justice is not truly served until the root causes of racism are addressed, and those in power protect human dignity by resolving conflict peacefully rather than through violence. This verdict is a long overdue step in the right direction, but it does not bring back the life of George Floyd. Our prayers remain with Mr. Floyd’s family and loved ones as they reencounter the traumatic events of last May. May we remember Mr. Floyd’s final words “I can’t breathe,” and continue our organizational and societal conversion to always work toward a society where every person is truly free to breathe, a society that recognizes that Black lives matter.

Approved by CCA’s Board of Directors
April 23, 2021
Feast of St. George

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[1] Statement on Systemic Racism and Police Violence Against People of Color (December 28, 2014), https://www.ccappal.org/statements-1/racism-and-police-violence; Statement of Commitment to Anti-Racist Action in Society and in the Church (June 19, 2020), https://www.ccappal.org/statements-1/statement-of-commitment-to-anti-racist-action-in-society-and-in-the-church.