The entire world was shocked and horrified last year by the brutal murder of George Floyd.

The demonstrations that swept our nation in the aftermath of his death made it clear that change is necessary, and change is surely coming.

I am relieved that the jury recognized what most Americans have long known to be true: it is never acceptable for an officer of the law to treat another person with the kind of malice and disregard for life that Derek Chauvin showed toward George Floyd.

I hope that this verdict can bring a measure of faith in our justice system to those whose only experiences with it have been reminders of injustice.

My thoughts remain with George Floyd's family. While this verdict will not bring their beloved family member back, I hope that seeing justice served will help ease their pain and give them some sense of closure.

As we move forward from this verdict, it is incumbent upon all of us to keep working to create the more just, more equal, and more perfect union we know is possible.

We must keep working to recognize the basic right of every person to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, which was denied to George Floyd and too many others. 

In March, the House passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to address the bias and misconduct that led to his death and to the unnecessary and unjust deaths of so many others. I am calling on the Senate to take action on that bill without delay.

No other family should have to experience the devastation that the Floyd family, and countless others, have experienced.

But there is only so much legislation alone can do.

America must reckon with the reality that, even 158 years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, our country is still not free from the legacy of slavery, segregation, and institutionalized racism.

Justice, equality, and opportunity are still being denied to Black Americans, and we must all confront this painful truth.

We can do better and we must do better. 

Sincerely,

Congressman Steny Hoyer
House Majority Leader