Selwyn Jones, George Floyd's uncle, came to the Massachusetts State House yesterday, echoing a resounding call for meaningful police reform. His plea comes nearly five years after the death of his nephew, George Floyd, at the hands of Minneapolis police officers, as reported by WHDH. Jones spoke of unity and the power of collective action, stating, "Police brutality, wrongful convictions, over-sentencing, domestic violence are all problems that we have that we can conquer, that we can control, but we as a unit have to come together."
This call to action coincided with an unexpected announcement from the U.S. Department of Justice, which retracted previous settlements aimed at overhauling the police departments of Minneapolis and Louisville. The scrapped agreements intended to address claims of unconstitutional policing and civil rights violations. This news was delivered to Jones in Boston, where he remarked, "I'm not trying to hear that, man," expressing determination by saying, "We created the movement, we created the change, we just have to keep our foot on the pedal," as shared with WCVB.
The anniversary of Floyd's murder is notably marked by Derek Chauvin's conviction, the former Minneapolis Police Officer found guilty and sentenced to more than 20 years in prison. Echoing Jones' sentiment, supporters in Boston demanded greater accountability and systemic changes within law enforcement. Activists called for "transparency in policing, for independent investigations, for community oversight, for real reform, not performative politics," highlighting a collective frustration with the pace of progress, as per WCVB.
As Jones stood with the families of those wrongfully convicted and victims of police violence, he pondered larger concerns like whether former President Donald Trump might pardon Chauvin next. He expressed the fatigue of navigating through "blatant murder, blatant chaos, blatant destruction," revealing a sense of exasperation with a system resistant to change, as per WCVB.
