{"id":8814,"date":"2021-04-20T19:13:41","date_gmt":"2021-04-20T23:13:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/earlham.edu\/?p=8814"},"modified":"2021-04-20T19:13:42","modified_gmt":"2021-04-20T23:13:42","slug":"president-houtman-reacts-to-verdict-in-derek-chauvin-trial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/earlham.edu\/news-events\/president-houtman-reacts-to-verdict-in-derek-chauvin-trial\/","title":{"rendered":"President Houtman reacts to verdict in Derek Chauvin trial"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The following is a statement from Earlham President Anne Houtman regarding the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial. Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, was found guilty earlier today of all three charges against him \u2014 second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter \u2014 in the death of George Floyd. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like many of you, I watched in horror last summer as footage of George Floyd\u2019s final moments emerged. As Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck, Floyd choked out the words \u201cI can\u2019t breathe\u201d nearly 30 times \u2014 until he could no longer speak. After his death, these whispered words became a rallying cry for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this instance, those words were heard. But there have been other times when they weren\u2019t. And there may be again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we sit with the verdict, it\u2019s also easy to remember the anger that swept the United States and the world in the summer of 2020. The outcry over systemic racism. The outrage over police brutality. This anger is justified, but simmering anger is not enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Earlhamites, we understand what it means to be global citizens. We also understand that our words and our actions \u2014 collectively and as individuals \u2014 can change the world for the better. This knowledge comes with a certain responsibility. To protest injustice, yes. To actively seek accountability, to ask the tough questions, to be proactive within our own communities rather than wait for another tragedy to occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Protest is an expression, an embodiment, of the difficult work of justice. To move forward without doing the difficult work that justice demands is to silence George Floyd\u2019s whispered words and our own cries for reform. Let\u2019s raise our voices in pursuit of change \u2014 but let\u2019s also raise our actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anne<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Media contact<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Brian Zimmerman<\/strong>
Director of media relations
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Email: zimmebr@earlham.edu
Phone: 765.983.1256<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n