“Justice”

This past week, I’ve felt no joy or any semblance of justice.

I hadn’t followed the way the trial played out, and I never will ever watch a trial like it. I never invested any energy nor time to seek legitimacy in the settler-colonial empire that we live in. It felt painful to see how much energy was spent in wishing for a conviction that we had all but known was inevitable. I am by all means wishing nothing but strength to George Floyd’s family and that they can begin to gain some closure. But institutionally, as policing has always existed in any form, no single or dozens of convicted cops at all ever will stop policing from killing our people.

I think what has been the most eery part of this week has been the single notion that not only that justice was “served,” but even the notion that progress was made tells me how far we are from recognizing policing and the state we live in is irredeemable. The state saw it necessary to absolve itself of any attachment to Chauvin. In a swift move, the state got rid of one cop to assert that “justice” can be brought to us here. He was the state’s sacrifice.

Before the verdict was even announced, two weeks ago we learned that Daunte Wright had been executed by a police officer in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Adam Toledo was killed by CPD nearly one month ago. On the day of the verdict, Ma’Khia…