COALITION FOR HUMANE IMMIGRANT RIGHTS
PRESS STATEMENT
LOS ANGELES -- The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), the largest immigrant rights organization in California, reacted to news Police Officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of killing George Floyd. The jury reached a verdict on three counts after more than 10 hours of deliberation. This verdict is unusual, but it should not be. Justice for people of color should not be unusual. We must strive to see justice done in every single case of police brutality. We must aspire to make it so no one has to fear for their life when police makes a traffic stop. Please attribute the following statements to Angelica Salas, CHIRLA executive director: "This verdict does not change the fact George Floyd is no longer alive and with his loved ones. We mourn his loss and send his family our deepest condolences. What this verdict also does not change after this murder verdict is the urgent need to change unjust, racially-based policing in the United States. Communities of color remain at risk at every traffic stop. Americans should abhor that. Our nation must question why police and policing is much more important than the lives of our community members. We must invest in the community and increase accountability for those who violate the human rights of our community members. Congress must step in to address the injustice they perpetrate. Mere reform is not enough to stop the racism that makes killing fields of our communities. The guilty verdicts are one more reason why we must continue to organize and press for justice. We, too, have a right to live and thrive." |