Gival Press wants to share its community’s (Arlington, Virginia) statement with regard to the verdict issued on Tuesday:
“Arlington County Board Statement on the Derek Chauvin Verdict
The Arlington County Board commends the Minneapolis jurors for returning a guilty verdict in the Derek Chauvin murder trial and joins others around the nation in relief. The shocking video of George Floyd’s death at the hands of Chauvin while other officers stood by and failed to intervene, showed the disregard for and devaluing of Black lives that is too common. The Board hopes that today’s verdict is a step forward in dismantling the systemic racism that pervades life throughout our nation.
We know that Arlington is not exempt from this racism and its impacts, and we renew our commitment to addressing those inequities and creating a culture of caring and respect. We are proud to live in a vibrant, diverse and inclusive community that champions human and civil rights, and while we know there is more work to be done, we are inspired by the efforts of Arlington community members and leaders who strengthen us as a whole.”
From Robert L. Giron, Gival Press’s publisher:
There still is more to be done in the USA regarding how Americans of diverse ethnicity, skin color, religion and gender identity are treated in the USA not only by police and elected officials but also by USA citizens who they themselves are or their ancestors were immigrants to the USA.
We forget that Native Americans of numerous tribes had their land taken away from them and were not declared USA citizens until the June 1924 law the Indian Citizenship Act signed by President Calvin Coolidge, after hundreds of years and after countless abuses against humanity committed at times by our own government.
—RLG