Chauvin conviction was a good start, but shows how far we must go to achieve justice

  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
Bryson Berry
·2 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Tuesday was a good day for America; we rejoice knowing that we can breathe a little better, justice has been served for once. Sadly, we live in a country that justifies killing Black people far too often. Trayvon Martin did not receive justice, Breonna Taylor did not receive justice, Eric Garner did not receive justice, Tamir Rice did not receive justice, and the list goes on.

The reason these people did not receive justice is because their killers had on a uniform and their killers are covered with immunity because of a badge. Time and time again our justice system has justified killing Black people and we have people around us who also find these murders justifiable. Justifying the death of Black people is a result of systemic racism — the plague that has spread throughout our communities, causing blacks to become dehumanized and killed at alarming rates.

The good news within all of the tragedy we have faced is, we can create a paradigm shift. This shift starts now, we will build off of this case by setting the precedent of holding law enforcement accountable. I worry that the discrepancies and distrust between law enforcement and the general public will only grow as a result of Derek Chauvin’s conviction, because now police officers feel betrayed by a system that is supposed to protect them and allow them to starkly impose their authority with little to no punishment. So, I do feel that law enforcement will only become worse, but I say this because we have to understand that we don’t just want justice, we don’t want a conviction; we want to live, we want freedom.

The way we achieve that is to not only lean on law enforcement to pick out the “bad apples” — we have to push for police reform and criminal justice reform. The way we get the reforms we need is by voting in mass amounts and using our voices in hopes for better days. We can not bring any of these precious lives back, but we can work to ensure that fewer lives are lost due to a system that devalues us.

Americans should be proud of how far we have come and still be cognizant about how much further we have to go. Stagnation is our worst enemy and hope is our greatest tool.

Bryson Berry is a senior at Frederick Douglass High School and will be attending Dartmouth College in the fall to major in Government and Economics.

Recommended Stories

  • Bishop T.D. Jakes Discusses His New Book ‘Don’t Drop The Mic,’ And Its Important Message

    Bishop T.D. Jakes has helped millions of people realize their purpose over the last 40 years through his dynamic ministry. The founder of The Potter's House, a nondenominational multicultural church and global humanitarian organization, in Dallas, Texas, joins Dr. Phil on Thursday’s episode to discuss his latest book, Don’t Drop the Mic: The Power of Words Can Change the World. “My focus was on giving clues and tips to public speakers, but as I continued to write, the world continued to become more chaotic,” Jakes says of the book. “Suddenly, I began to realize that we are having difficulty on so many different levels learning how to communicate, that I broadened the scope of the book to tell us how important it is that we have been gifted with language … It is that gift that has been given to us that gives us the hope of a better life, a better future, a better community, and a better society.” Hear more of Jakes’ thoughts about language and communication in the video above. This episode of Dr. Phil, "'My Twin Sister Thinks She is Etta James Reincarnated!'," airs Thursday. Check local listings to see where you can tune in. Don’t Drop the Mic: The Power of Words Can Change the World is available now in bookstores and online. TELL DR. PHIL YOUR STORY: Ask Dr. Phil!

  • A 16-Year-Old Girl Was Killed By Ohio Police. Her Family Demands Answers.

    "This never should have happened. She's a loving girl."

  • Neighbor says Andrew Brown was fleeing in car when shots were fired, killing him

    “I got down there and they were shooting at the car. He didn’t get far because the sheriff deputies were in the driveway. He was getting away. He wasn’t a threat.”

  • Floyd killing has prompted state reforms, but not everywhere

    George Floyd's killing last year and the protests that followed led to a wave of police reforms in dozens of states, from changes in use-of-force policies to greater accountability for officers. At the same time, lawmakers in a handful of states have had success addressing racial inequities. In Texas, where Floyd was raised and laid to rest, state Sen. Royce West this year helped introduce the “George Floyd Act" to overhaul policing.

  • Officials: Biden preparing to recognize Armenian genocide at hands of Ottoman Turks

    The anticipated move could further complicate an already tense relationship with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

  • U.S. Cites Modest Progress in Iran Talks, Dialing Back Optimism

    (Bloomberg) -- The Biden administration sought to dial back Iranian assessments that the two sides are getting close to an agreement on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal, saying disagreements remain wide on what steps they need to take to come back into compliance.A senior State Department official, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity, said the two sides are closer to the beginning of negotiations than to the end. The official spoke after a second round of talks in Vienna this past week in which the U.S. and Iran didn’t meet directly but negotiated through their European, Russian and Chinese partners.The official’s comments appeared intended to counter speculation of an impending deal after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the talks are 60%-70% complete and the two sides could soon resuscitate the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which limited the scope of Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the easing of economic sanctions.President Donald Trump pulled out of the nuclear accord in 2018 -- calling it the “worst deal ever” -- and ramped up restrictions on the Islamic Republic, including on oil sales. Iran responded later by enriching uranium beyond agreed-upon limits, but insisting it remained a party to the nuclear accord.The U.S. declined to say which sanctions the Biden administration is prepared to lift, while making clear that terror-related restrictions imposed late in the Trump administration would likely be one target.The official also said the two sides had made some progress in the talks and acknowledged that the U.S. was open to different types of sequencing under which both nations would return to compliance with the deal.In the past, President Joe Biden and his team have argued that the U.S. would come back into compliance only after Iran did.For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2021 Bloomberg L.P.

  • Police urge government to scrap plans for ‘damaging’ force league tables

    ‘We have backed the police with funding and officers and now we want to see results,’ says Home Office source

  • ‘Justice can prevail.’ Group gathers in Lexington after verdict in Derek Chauvin trial

    A group that has been protesting since last summer against police violence gathered Tuesday night in downtown Lexington to hear the verdict announced in the trial of Derek Chauvin, who was found guilty on all counts in the death of George Floyd.

  • Lexington looking for new violence prevention coordinator, programs as homicides spike

    The city of Lexington is looking for a new violence prevention czar as it is faces an alarming jump in the number of homicides in recent weeks.

  • US average mortgage rates under 3% for first time since Feb.

    Mortgage rates fell for the third straight week, dipping below 3% for the first time in two months. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the benchmark 30-year home-loan rate declined to 2.97% this week from 3.04% last week.

  • ‘Tired of burying one another.’ Families of Lexington homicide victims rally to end violence

    Concerned about a recent spike in fatal shootings, Lexington community members on Tuesday gathered to say they’re “sick and tired of burying one another.”

  • CD Projekt plans dividend after Cyberpunk 2077 sales neared 14 million last year

    Polish video games maker CD Projekt on Thursday said it had sold 13.7 million copies of its flagship Cyberpunk 2077 game last year despite a bug-ridden launch, and would pay a dividend of 5 zlotys per share after revenue surged. With a budget of 1.2 billion zlotys ($316.19 million), Cyberpunk 2077 was CD Projekt's most-anticipated game since 2015's 'The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt', but it has been delisted from Sony's PlayStation Store since shortly after December's problematic launch. "This was a huge lesson for us, one we will never forget - but I believe now is the time to look to the future," CD Projekt joint Chief Executive Adam Kicinski said in a statement following the release of the company's 2020 financial results.

  • Black ministers to Lexington leaders: We want answers by May 15 on no-knock warrants

    A group of Lexington Black faith leaders, who have pushed for 10 months for the city to ban no-knock warrants, sent letters to Mayor Linda Gorton and the 15-member Lexington council this week demanding to know their stance on the issue by May 15.

  • Prostitution will no longer be prosecuted in Manhattan

    The district attorney dismissed 914 past cases under its new policy, along with 5,080 cases for loitering for the purpose of prostitution.

  • Supreme Court declines to put new limits on juvenile life-without-parole sentences

    The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 against Brett Jones, a Mississippi man who was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for killing his grandfather when he was 15.

  • No charges for Tennessee officer who fatally shot Black student in high school bathroom

    A police officer who fatally shot Anthony J. Thompson Jr. in a chaotic confrontation inside a high school bathroom will not face charges.

  • Mom shoots 10-year-old son and places body in car trunk, Kentucky cops say

    She told officers she tried to cut her son’s tongue out of his mouth before shooting him.

  • Supreme Court OKs life in prison without parole for some juveniles convicted of murder

    With liberals dissenting, the Supreme Court makes it easier for juveniles convicted of murder to get life in prison without parole.

  • George Floyd: How are African-Americans treated under the law?

    We've looked at some of the data around ethnicity and the US crime and justice system.

  • Efren Medina: 20-year-old Georgia firefighter dies during first shift

    ‘Efren was a wonderful brother, son, husband and friend to all,’ says friend on fundraiser page