Special Series

One Year Later: Youth Voice Writers Reflect on the Police Murder of George Floyd

May 25, 2021 marks one year since the police killing of 46-year-old George Floyd. He was a father, a Minneapolis resident and a Black man in America. The murder, which was caught on video and widely viewed, sparked global protests last summer and a national reckoning not only with racist police violence, but with the white supremacy that is embedded in American institutions.

Derek Chauvin, the police officer who kneeled on the neck of George Floyd until he was dead, was found guilty of murder on April 20, 2021. Now, one year after the killing, Youth Voice contributors share their thoughts on justice, racism and police brutality in our country.

Contributor Shay House writes that justice is Black people living in all of their glory.

5/25/2021

Justice is Black People Living in All of Their Glory

Shay House

Shay House writes that justice is Black people living in all of their glory, not being murdered because of the color of their skin.

Americans raised their collective voice against police brutality after the murder of George Floyd last year.

5/25/2021

Today, We Have a Voice

Juwan Jessup

Juwan Jessup writes that today, Black Americans have a voice and the power to stand up against unjust systems.

For Black Americans, justice means more than a guilty verdict.

5/25/2021

Sympathy is Nice, But Justice is Better

Dezarae Newstrom

Dezarae Newstrom writes that there is so much cruelty within policing and foster care, and that we need education on the history of these systems.

After the police killing of George Floyd, protestors called for freedom and an end to police violence against Black Americans.

5/25/2021

Freedom is Bigger Than the End of Slavery

Jamari Jones

Jamari Jones writes that the guilty verdict in the murder of George Floyd set the tone for addressing racism.

After the police killing of George Floyd, many Americans demanded justice.

5/25/2021

It is Not Over. We Still Need More Justice.

Deddtrease Edwards

Deddtrease Edwards writes that Black and brown communities need to continue to fight for justice.