Friend,

Last May, we saw a murder happen in plain sight in Minnesota. George Floyd sparked a global movement; we came together to say that enough is enough and that Black lives matter.

Nearly a year later, I stood in George Floyd Square––a place of community mourning and healing––as Derek Chauvin was held accountable for his lethal actions. While this cannot bring Floyd back to life, this was a needed reminder that no one is above the law. But we didn’t stand alone. One of our members, Marcia Howard, has been taking care of George Floyd Square since last May. It was one of her students whose video of Floyd was a key piece of evidence that convicted Chauvin.

In October, Education Minnesota President Denise Specht, AFT Secretary-Treasurer Fedrick Ingram and I spent time with Marcia. We talked about the fight for justice for her community and for Floyd. Ever since, we have been working together, as we have in our other community work, from Massena, N.Y., to McDowell County, W.Va. Members of the George Floyd Square Zone want the freedom to thrive––like every other community––and we will fight tooth and nail to help them achieve that. Yes, that starts with Black people not being terrified while driving, jogging or walking, but it is more than just reforming the criminal justice system.

They have 24 demands that will help ensure justice and opportunity in the neighborhood in which Floyd died. They decided today they would continue that fight at a community meeting that Ingram, Specht and I took part in. Their demands address all the dimensions of inequality in our work and in our communities, including fighting for investments in communities of color—in education, community supports, healthcare and neighborhood-based public safety.

Along with the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers, the AFT is encouraging Minneapolis leadership to invest $400,000 into the George Floyd Square Zone through the neighborhood association to create new jobs for young people and end indemnification of law enforcement, because no one is above the law.

The Minneapolis community and Minnesota communities at large are ready to make change. Call the Minneapolis City Council to tell its members to join the righteous fight at 612-673-2210.

While yesterday’s verdict provides hope that the criminal justice system can work, we had a stark reminder that same night of the necessity to fight for Black lives when we learned of Ma’Khia Bryant’s death. Ma’Khia was in danger, and she did what any other 16-year-old would do: She called the police for help. And then she lost her life as a result. Once again, it appears that bias and racism led to her death.

This is why the fight for anti-racism and equity must be a cornerstone of everything we do.

And that means making these changes to police accountability and the criminal justice system nationally, not just state by state.The House has already passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. It’s time for the Senate to do the same. Tell your senators to be on the right side of history.

Yesterday’s verdict shows that the arc can bend toward justice, but we must do the bending—over and over again.

In unity,

Randi Weingarten

AFT President