The following statement is from David Villalobos, Statewide Right2Justice Coordinator of the Texas Organizing Project (TOP), in observance of the one-year anniversary today of George Floyd’s murder:
“A father, brother, community member, and friend, George Floyd moved to Minnesota from Houston’s Third Ward for a fresh start – a chance to better himself. And he should still be with us here today.
“The verdict reached last month was a display of accountability, which in itself is an indictment of our current system where accountability for murder at the hands of police has largely been nonexistent.”
“Honoring George Floyd’s life means taking bold action to overhaul the system that ended it.”
Joy Davis, a TOP member from Houston, added the following:
“Derek Chauvin’s murder of George Floyd was an act of evil that embodies the disregard for humanity that law enforcement far too often shows toward Black communities.
“TOP remains as committed as ever in harnessing the passion of last year’s historic #BlackLivesMatter uprisings to continue the vital work needed to confront uncomfortable truths about policing and transform our criminal-legal system from the inside out.
“We demand nothing short of full accountability for this entire system AND justice for all. Our organizing efforts for the immediate, bold policies we need to ensure true safety in our communities is only growing stronger, and our voices are only getting louder.”
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Texas Organizing Project organizes Black and Latino communities in Dallas, Harris and Bexar counties with the goal of transforming Texas into a state where working people of color have the power and representation they deserve. For more information, visit organizetexas.org.
This statement was sent out May 25, 2021.