From the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor
Yesterday, jurors in the murder trial of Derek Chauvin found the defendant guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and manslaughter in the killing of George Floyd.
We stand with the Jewish community of Minnesota and the Dakotas in welcoming this step towards justice and healing. We offer solidarity with the Black community, including Jews of color. We express our commitment to fighting the systemic racism that set the stage for Floyd’s brutal murder and the killing of far too many Black and Brown people by those who are supposed to protect them.
We rededicate ourselves to a basic Jewish tenet: to uphold our responsibility to care for all life. All humans are created equal, and we will work alongside our neighbors to secure a more just and caring world. This value directly informs the work of our Jewish Community Relations Committee (JCRC) through which we foster and build relationships and take action on key issues impacting the Jewish community and the community at large – foremost among them, racial justice and equality.
May George Floyd’s memory continue to be a blessing to those who knew him, and may his memory serve to inspire change in our communities and our nation.
Eileen Freed
Executive Director
Randy Milgrom
President, Board of Directors
Decky Alexander
Chair, Jewish Community Relations Committee