Today's Verdict (April 20, 2021)
To the Bowdoin community,
I know you join me in the hope that today’s conviction of former Minneapolis, Minnesota, police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd provides some solace to Mr. Floyd’s family and friends, and to so many others.
The justice system worked in this case, for which we can be thankful. And perhaps the fact that the testimony of the chief of police and other police officers helped to convict Chauvin, along with the outcome of the trial itself, suggests that we are beginning to head down a path to greater racial justice in America. This is my hope.
Despite this outcome, we cannot lose sight of the historic, persistent, and well-documented inequities for those of color in our country in the courts, policing, incarceration, and across many other institutions in our society. There is much work ahead for all of us to create a racially just society in America. Thank you for your commitment to this work and for taking care of one another.
Clayton