Statement by Mercy Corps CEO Tjada D’Oyen McKenna on the Verdict Reached in the Trial of Derek Chauvin

While the guilty verdict handed down today in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin represents justice for George Floyd and his family, sadly the United States has not made enough progress dismantling systemic racism, ending police brutality and combating intolerance since his death brought greater attention to the Black Lives Matter movement nearly a year ago. 

We’ve continued to see Black lives stolen by police in the U.S., and Black, Brown and Asian communities targeted by violence. Just last week 20-year-old Daunte Wright was gunned down by Minnesota police only miles from where George Floyd was killed. In Chicago, Adam Toledo, a 13-year-old Mexican-American boy, was also murdered by a police officer. 

Continued police brutality comes amidst rising global violence and xenophobia toward Asian and Pacific Islander communities. Also last week, four members of the Indianapolis Sikh community were murdered in a mass shooting at a FedEx workplace where most employees were Sikh. This follows the horrific shooting in Atlanta last month targeting Asian Americans. There are myriad other attacks on individuals each day that don’t capture news headlines.

As Mercy Corps works to build more productive, just and secure communities and advance dignity for all people in the 40+ countries where we work, we will continue speaking out against injustice and racism. We will continue to build communities of belonging and inclusion, in our own organization and around the world. And we will continue standing in solidarity with marginalized communities and all those fighting for justice.