Justice for George Floyd: Why The Conviction Matters

Starting with Derek Chauvin, it’s finally time to start holding people accountable for their racist criminal acts.

In May of 2020, the video of former police officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on an unarmed black man’s neck circulated the net. The man’s name was George Floyd, who died shortly after this act of brutality. This moment sparked global outrage that reignited discussions about one of the most important issues yet—the systemic racism that exists in modern society.

“I can’t breathe.” These were George Floyd’s final words, as a police officer continuously knelt on his neck for almost 9 minutes. Floyd was later pronounced dead at the hospital. After almost a year since his death, his murderer is finally convicted in court. Derek Chauvin was found guilty of three charges: second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter, according to CNN.

^{George Floyd, Black Lives Matter Protest photographed by Jana Early}

This is great news. A racist police officer held accountable for his actions? It’s about time. And while I am glad, this also has got me thinking: Will Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, have been held accountable if not for the video that caused global outrage and protests all over the world? How many more are there that have not been given justice because their deaths were not recorded, reported, or not given the attention it needed?

The Philippines is no stranger to racism. While we may want to see ourselves as progressive, but racism and colorism is still very much present in our society today. Historically, race has always been an issue in our country, too. When the Philippines was colonized by Spain in 1521, Filipinos were taught that they were inferior to the more civilized Europeans. When the country was bought off by the Americans, it furthered the idea that we were not as good. The superiority of “whiteness” and the West was imbedded in the minds of Filipinos, and has long continued since.

^{Black Lives Matter Protest photographed by Abdulhamid Hosbas, Getty Images}

You might think, This happened centuries ago, so why should I support the Black Lives Matter movement? Simple. It’s because as Filipinos, we struggle with racism too, especially with the increase in attacks against Asians that started another movement: Stop Asian Hate. With over 2 million registered Filipinos living the US, we all have friends and family living in the US who live in the shadow of microagressions and even violence. How can we protect them? By banding together with other immigrants, people of color who are fighting for real and lasting change.

We must continuously educate ourselves and others about this important issue, and while we may never truly understand what others are going through, we must stand up and fight for people who are constantly victimized by racism.

Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, and Daunte Wright—these are just some of the people killed by the police in the US. There are hundreds more we need to be aware of. Know and remember their names. The Black Lives Matter movement exists for them, for our family, our friends, and us. And while this conviction is a start, we still have a long way to go. It is time to use our voice and speak up against racism.

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