Remarks Given by President Washington on the Anniversary of George Floyd’s Death

As we gather today on the one-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd, I am sadden that we are here today, but I am happy to be able to honor George Floyd and all black and brown lives lost in recent years. 

All lives cannot matter until this Nation realizes that black lives do indeed matter.  Until that is a realization, there simply is not justice for all.  No longer can we stand by silent and complacent with this Nation’s deeply rooted racial divide.

On the evening of the announcement of the guilty verdict in Derek Chauvin’s trial for the murder of George Floyd, President Obama said: “True justice requires that we come to terms with the fact that Black Americans are treated differently, every day. It requires us to recognize that millions of our friends, family and fellow citizens live in fear that their next encounter with law enforcement could be their last.  And it requires us to do the sometimes thankless, often difficult, but always necessary work of making the America we know more like the America we believe in. 

With that guilty verdict we saw the criminal justice system hold former police officer Derek Chauvin accountable for the murder of George Floyd.  Like many of you, I was relieved when the verdict was announced.  Relieved for black men across the country that justice was served.  However, while Derek Chauvin’s trial was taking place, police in the United States killed an average of 3 people a day.  Despite only making up 13% of the U.S. population, black Americans are nearly three times as likely as white Americans to be killed by police.  In 2020, there were just 18 days where police did not kill somebody.

Accountability is not justice until it happens on a regular basis.  Our laws must be reformed to reset the balance between law enforcement and civil rights.  We must remember that all cops are not bad cops, but we must hold the “bad apples” accountable and fellow officers should hold the “bad apples” accountable as well.

I hope that the lessons learned from the death of George Floyd and its aftermath will result in police reform beginning with the passing of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act We still have a long way to go, and a lot of work ahead at the Federal, State and Local level.

This is the time to make your contribution to the effort of moving our nation forward.

We must demand the change that we want to see.  We must take advantage of our voting rights so that we are electing leaders who are not fearful to demand change and who will hold police and law enforcement accountable.   Our voices and our voting power can demand change.  We can no longer remain silent. We can no longer be a hot news segment our lives matter we are fathers, mothers, daughters, sons brothers, sisters uncles and aunts. As the late great congressman John Lewis said “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and redeem the soul of America.”  

"We are Done Dying"

June 3, 2020

Dear Member:

For the past few months, being Black in America has received more attention due to the health disparity effects of COVID-19 and the killings of our unarmed Black men and women. Protests are happening on a national scale because this cyclical act continues: the disregard for Black and Brown lives. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, people are risking their lives and gathering in large crowds to protest because we are hurting. We are angry. We are tired. We are resilient.

Although everyone reacts to injustice differently, I implore you not to be silent on the current state of affairs. We are human beings and we are dying at a higher rate from COVID-19, due to inadequate access to health care. We are dying at the hands of police. We are dying because racist people can say they have a right to “stand their ground” or do a “citizen’s arrest.” We are dying in so many ways other demographics do not need to even think about.  And, despite the high death rate compared to our white counterparts….Black lives matter.

As legal professionals, we know the origins of the constitution did not recognize the rights of women and Black people. Black people were not even considered human beings. We were considered property. Our lives were bartered for goods and services. It took the 13th Amendment for Black people to legally be considered human beings. In 1870, the 15th Amendment gave Black men the ballot. After passing this law, obstacles were put in place so Black men could not actually vote. If Black men tried to vote, they were thrown in jail for “crimes” or threatened with the loss of their jobs so they could not support their families. In 2020, Black and Brown people are still suffering from voter suppression: Black and Brown people are being told they do not have the proper ID; they are incorrectly told their names are not on voter rolls; and there are frequent changes to voting sites that statistically affect the Black and Brown communities more so than other demographics.

Our lives as human beings are disregarded in so many ways, not just by the hands of poorly trained and racist police officers. I can appreciate the fact that the recordings of these killings are forcing the hands of the prosecution. However, these images are someone’s son, daughter, brother, father, and friend. And, they have to constantly relive these traumatic moments. I truly empathize with the grief you may be feeling as a result of these recurring incidences. I assure you our lives are valued in spite of the casually shown images of bloodied black and brown bodies.

The lack of convictions for the murders of black men and women are traumatic. The killing of George Floyd is a piece of a bigger issue that needs to be addressed: systemic racism. The system is not broken. The system was never meant to protect Black and Brown people. This needs to be an everyday fight, not just when  another person is murdered. So I challenge each and every one of you reading this, to get involved today.

The MBAWNY and the NAACP Buffalo Chapter are combining forces. I challenge you all to join the discussion and become involved in our mission to make our world look better than it did yesterday.

It’s not enough to just say we need change. It is not enough to say we stand in solidarity. We need peaceful and constructive action. We will no longer be silent. As the NAACP said, “We are done dying.”

Jamila A. Lee, Esq.
MBAWNY President, 2020