Remembering George Floyd
Written by Women Who Code
On the one year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd, we at Women Who Code remember and honor his life. We remember that George Floyd was a father who loved his family greatly.
We recognize the trauma Black people in the United States and around the world experienced as Mr. Floyd was losing his life, as well as the trauma Black people in this country continue to experience since his death.
We know police violence and police brutality needs to come to an end.
We know qualified immunity needs to come to an end.
The U.S. Senate has yet to pass H.R. 1280 – George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021. This is unacceptable. In order for this country to show it is committed to justice and equity the act must be signed soon.
Fifty years ago, Marvin Gaye wrote the song “What’s Going On” which captured much of the same oppression Black people and people of color are experiencing today. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is a start at ending oppression and violence in Black communities.
Our commitment to being an anti-racist organization continues. May the coming days ahead bring action by our nation’s leaders and a swift end to police violence and police brutality in Black communities and neighborhoods.
We owe it to the memory of George Floyd and to his family to keep going.
On behalf of the team @ Women Who Code
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Written in consultation with activist, advocate, artist, and WWCode Advocacy Specialist, Christopher Sims.
Image credit: Lorie Shaull from St Paul, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. The mural, located on the corner of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue South in Minneapolis, is the work of artists Xena Goldman, Cadex Herrera, and Greta McLain. The group started working on the mural on Thursday morning and finished it within 12 hours with the help of artists Niko Alexander and Pablo Hernandez.
Here are some resources we’ve found helpful: