This week’s verdict in the case of former police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd is one example of accountability in our justice system. However, it does not erase our history of systemic and institutional racism. There is much more to do.
We all must remain determined to drive meaningful, deliberate change on a broad scale and to create a more equitable society.
As Metro Housing said in a statement after George Floyd’s murder, racism in our country will continue to be a problem until we acknowledge the impact that our society’s past has had on its present. We all must use our voices to call for changes that will increase opportunity for everyone, including the reform of our criminal justice system, increasing public school funding and job training, and investments in more affordable housing for families with the lowest incomes.
We will use our position as a leader in the affordable housing arena to prompt federal, state, and local decision-makers who are in a position to do so to eliminate the barriers to economic and social mobility faced by people and communities of color.