UnidosUS President and CEO: Chauvin Verdict a Necessary Step Forward for Racial Justice, but More Needs to Be Done

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WASHINGTON, DC—In response to the guilty verdicts stemming from the trial of Derek Chauvin for the killing of George Floyd last year, Janet Murguía, president and CEO of UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization, issued the following statement:

“At least for today, justice has been done, for George Floyd and his family. Today’s verdicts provide some long-overdue hope and comfort for all those in this country who were horrified and outraged by the despicable actions of Derek Chauvin and who believe that police officers should be held accountable.

“Yet, the murder of Mr. Floyd—and most recently, the tragic deaths of Daunte Wright and Adam Toledo at the hands of police—shows how far this country has to go to rid itself of the structural racism and bigotry that exist in this country, especially in law enforcement. Without widespread reform that prioritizes accountability for these officers, all our Black and Latino young men will continue to be at risk. That is why we are working with our brothers and sisters in the Black community and other communities of color to rethink community and public safety needs, including passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act as soon as possible. We hope, and we will continue to work to ensure, that what happened today in Minneapolis is truly a step forward on the path to accountability and justice for all.”