Former US President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama on Tuesday applauded the guilty sentence for former white police officer Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd , but considered that “true justice” requires accepting that “African Americans are treated in a different way”.
“Today, a jury in Minneapolis did the right thing,” said the Obamas, the only African-American couple to reach the White House , in a statement released after the unanimous verdict in the trial of Floyd, whose death, on May 2020, was the trigger for a wave of demonstrations that shook the United States.
They both recalled that Floyd’s death resonated “around the world,” but there was always the most basic question: “Would justice be served?”
Today, a jury did the right thing. But true justice requires much more. Michelle and I send our prayers to the Floyd family, and we stand with all those who are committed to guaranteeing every American the full measure of justice that George and so many others have been denied. pic.twitter.com/mihZQHqACV
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 20, 2021
“In this case, at least, we have our answer. But if we are honest with ourselves, we know that true justice is much more than a single verdict in a single trial. True justice requires that we accept the fact that African Americans are treated differently, every day, “they stressed.
And they pointed out that it also requires recognizing that “millions of our friends, family and fellow citizens live in fear that their next encounter with the forces of public order will be the last.”
“Although today’s verdict may have been a necessary step on the road to progress, it is far from being enough. We cannot rest,” declared Barack and Michelle Obama , who asked to go ahead with “concrete reforms” to reduce and eliminate racial biases in the criminal justice system and expanding economic opportunities for underserved communities.
“We can draw strength from the millions of people – especially young people – who have marched and protested and demonstrated during the last year shedding light on inequality and calling for change. Justice is closer today not only because of this verdict, but because of their work “, they affirmed.
Both sent their prayers to Floyd’s family, and said they were committed to guaranteeing all Americans the full justice that “George and so many others have been denied.”