Statement on Derek Chauvin Conviction
April 21, 2021
“We must remember that true justice would include George Floyd still being alive, not executed by a system that disproportionally targets black and brown people”
As the country watched with bated breath to learn the jury’s verdict in the Derek Chauvin case, the cruel reality dawned on us that we are inured to state-sponsored violence against people of color. Even after we all witnessed the horrifying murder of George Floyd on camera, deep down inside, we collectively expected his murderer to get away with it. The NUIFC recognizes that the conviction of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin is a small and rare glimpse of justice in a system designed to allow unaccountable violence towards black people and people of color. We also recognize that true justice requires courage, activism, resistance, and a collective demand to reform the oppressive systems. This step toward justice started with the bravery of a 17-year-old bystander putting herself in harm’s way to document this gross injustice with a cell phone camera, which enraged millions of Americans and inspired a national movement of protests demanding justice and accountability in every major city in America. Together, in solidarity, we made this rare victory possible.
The NUIFC recognizes the resiliency and strength of our member organizations in Minneapolis, many of which are just a few blocks from the 3rd precinct in Minneapolis - the epicenter and focus of the protests. We watched in horror as MIGIZI, an organization dedicated to empowering Native youth, burned to the ground in the wake of the protests and watched in admiration as that same organization rebuilt and is thriving today. We watched our relatives from the American Indian Movement patrol the streets around Franklin Avenue to keep the Little Earth community safe and protect a cultural corridor for the Native community. We watched as our member centers rolled up their sleeves and worked tirelessly to rebuild their city while demanding accountability and justice with other communities of color.
As we go forward, we must remember that true justice would include George Floyd still being alive, not executed by a system that disproportionally targets black and brown people. We as a nation demand more than a single win in this fight. The NUIFC stands in solidarity with activists and advocates around the country working on system reform. We will remain vigilant in our work toward a society free from state-sponsored violence.
Signed in Solidarity and Love by the Urban Indian Organizations below,
National Urban Indian Family Coalition
Janeen Comenote, Executive Director, NUIFC
Staff members Rio Fernandes, Audrey Gray, Meila Davis, Michelle Boxley
NUIFC Board and Organizations
Patricia Hibbeler – CEO, Phoenix Indian Center
Ramon Vasquez – Executive Director, American Indians in Texas Spanish Colonial Missions, San Antonio, TX
Sheri Timm-Riemers – Government & Community Relations Director, Ain Dah Yung Center, St. Paul MN
NUIFC Member Centers & Affiliates
First Alaskans Institute >> Anchorage AK
United Indians of All Tribes Foundation >> Seattle WA
Chief Seattle Club >> Seattle, WA
Seattle Indian Health Board >> Seattle. WA
Seattle Urban Native Network >> Seattle, WA
The Native Project >> Spokane WA
NAYA Family Center >> Portland OR
American Indian Child Resource Center >> Oakland CA
Semillas Community Schools >> Los Angeles, CA
Southern California Indian Center >> Fountain Valley, CA
Native American Health Center >> Oakland, CA
Las Vegas Indian Center >> Las Vegas, NV
Denver Indian Center >> Denver, CO
Denver Indian Family Resource Center >> Denver, CO
Tucson Indian Center >> Tucson, AZ
Native American Community Academy >> Albuquerque, NM
Americans for Indian Opportunity >> Albuquerque, NM
Rock the Native Vote >> Oklahoma City & Tulsa, OK
Kansas City Indian Center >> Kansas City, MO
Indianapolis Indian Center >> Indianapolis, IN
American Indian Center of Chicago >> Chicago, IL
Sacred Pipe Resource Center, Bismarck, ND
Pine Hill Indian Community >> Pine Hill, SC
North American Indian Center of Boston >> Boston, MA
Native American Community Services >> Buffalo NY
American Indian Community House >> New York, NY
HeSapa Voter Initiative >> Rapid City SD
Ain Dah Yung Center >> St. Paul, MN
St. Paul Indians in Action >> St. Paul, MN
Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference of The United Methodist Church >> Oklahoma City, OK
Native Leadership Collective >> Albuquerque, NM