When Will You Learn?

On April 20th, 2021, Derek Chauvin was convicted on 1 count of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.

This in itself is amazing news, but I will not be celebrating this verdict like so many of you are. Chauvin was a scapegoat. You can clearly see in the videos from his conviction that he thought he was going to be getting off.

Last week, Daunte Wright was killed by police. Mere moments before Chauvin’s verdict was handed down, Makiyah Bryant called the cops because she was being attacked. She picked up a knife to defend herself. When cops showed up, Makiyah had the knife in her hands, and they shot her four times without investigation. Her mother, Paula Bryant described her daughter as an honour rolls student. Makiyah was only 16.

While I hope for reform, and I advocate for less racist systems to be put in place, part of me is a lot less hopeful and fairly pessimistic about this. I honestly think things are going to get a lot worse before they get better.

I also think that we are on the verge of a monumental consciousness shift, I hope we are. Where we are right now is not sustainable.

For this reason, I will continue to stand behind BIPOC (Black and Indigenous Peoples of Colour) individuals. I will continue to back them, and given the chance, would gladly use my body as a shield.

Make no mistake: I am one of those that will go to war over this.

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