The last former Minneapolis police
officer charged in the killing of
George Floyd is found guilty to Tao
learned his fate today from the same
judge who found Derek Chauvin guilty
two years ago and a lengthy decision.
Judge Peter Cahill didn't hold back,
writing that the evidence of overwhelming
amounts proves that to Tao was guilty.
The judge added that he made a
conscious decision to touted to
actively participate in Floyd's
death by holding back bystanders.
Who were pleading with Officer Tao to
help George Floyd while he lay dying
under the knee of Derek Chauvin 2 Tao's
action were front and center in the
video that brought worldwide attention to
this case in real time three years ago,
But it's important for all of us
to remember how much uncertainty
surrounded the case against Derek
Chauvin when his trial started in 2021.
So tonight Kent revisited that moment in
time and reflected on our progress since.
With Dr.
Yahuru Williams.
My name is Yahuru Williams.
I'm a professor of history
and founding director of the
Racial Justice Initiative at
the University of St. Thomas.
On the first day of the first trial
stemming from the murder of George Floyd,
it was hard to see the path
forward in the glare of an
international spotlight. Minnesota
right now, we're Ground Zero
and a national conversation.
In fact, the global conversation
about racial justice.
And that's important and it's
going to mark our future,
not just in terms of the trial.
But also in terms of the trail,
what we leave behind in the
aftermath of this moment,
two years and eight convictions later, Dr.
Williams says that aftermath
is just beginning to enter
into the equation. We're seeing
some positives in terms of
those trails, at least here,
in terms of how the criminal justice
system is at least trying to change.
In addition to the criminal convictions, Dr.
Williams points to widespread reviews
and reforms of useofforce policies
and local changes that include new
MPD and public safety leadership and
a consent decree aimed at addressing.
And systemic issues.
I always remind people the
consent decree is the first step.
Oakland, CA was under
consent decree for 20 years.
We'll be looking at and taking
account of how well we've done
for many years to come. But even
back on day one, he's believed it
will take more than the scales of
justice to measure our progress.
Most people are thinking about
this is the trial of Derek Chauvin,
but this is also the trial of
this community and ultimately
the verdict for us will be.
What we look back in 10 years and say
about ourselves and how we've grown or
haven't grown in that time, a couple
of years later, how much do
you think we have grown? It's
a great question because I
think we're still on trial.
And it all comes down to the ways in
which we as a community accept the
responsibility that we're the jury,
that we're not just those who
are in a position to look at
these these things and say,
you know, this is what happened,
but to ask what did we do?
And it's our actions ultimately that
will define the legacy of this moment.
Every step matters, every
contribution that people make
in a very basic way.
Do you feel like we're taking
steps in the right direction?
I see a lot of things happening in
our community that bring hope to me,
that lead me to be encouraged about what we.
Could be what we can be.
And I think there are a lot of people
who will be frustrated and say,
you know, I don't feel that
we've made substantive change.
But looking inward also gives us an
opportunity to say what changes have I made.
And sometimes people will be quite surprised
to find that they are more attentive,
that they're more concerned they've
actually learned more about issues.
There's no magic solution here.
It'll be 1000 acts of kindness,
1000 Points of Light that'll
move us back in the direction.
Of a just an equitable community.
We are not passive bystanders.
We have to recognize the ways in which
we can be active agents for change.
Those things again are collective and
they require people to make everyday
decisions that help to create that light.
So true. The civic engagement that
was already healthy in Minneapolis
that I saw before the murder of
George Floyd has only increased and
what I see now exponentially so we
do see it if we look hard enough.
Doctor Yohoo Williams says he's grateful for.
This conversation on a day
like today because change,
we always have to be reminded.
As humans, change is incremental.
And if we don't stop and
think about our progress,
it's easy to just say it's not
changing fast enough and get
tired and then the momentum stops.