Justice is a gatekept term. Who gets to define justice? Within the criminal legal system, justice is defined for Black and Brown communities and not by our Black and Brown communities: these state-defined parameters limiting our imagination of what we need and deserve.
Justice isn’t one jury verdict. Justice would look at the full breadth of the system and ensure there won’t be more violence tomorrow; violence in all of its forms. It shouldn’t take the most hardcore, visceral form of it for the world to respond, demanding a justice that doesn’t truly address the root. Justice would ensure that we wouldn’t all be collectively holding our breaths before a verdict was reached about something the entire world saw in HD in real time.
It is important for us to recognize George Floyd’s story had the ripple effect that it did because it embodied all violence that has happened, violence happening now, and fear of future violence. George Floyd was an individual that a supremacist system responded to by design, just as it responded to so many before and so many since.
Along with Darnella Frazier, and all the young people in Richmond and worldwide who saw this violence for what it was and refused to be silent, RYSE stands steady in love and rage. We are ready with imagination and vision as long as is needed on the path toward a justice that sees and acts on behalf of all of us.
Above all else it is important that we take care of ourselves as individuals and as community. Listen to your body. Hold, leave and honor what you need in this moment.
To our members, RYSE loves you and we are here to support you. We will hold spaces for RYSE members this week, if you would like to attend please send us a direct message or call/text 510-255-1940.