Today will be remembered as a day when justice was served. Derek Chauvin was found guilty on the counts of murder and manslaughter of George Floyd. The Fredericksburg NAACP rejoices and is hopeful with this verdict.
Earlier this week our community recognized the 70th anniversary of the very brave actions of the all-black Walker-Grant High School class of 1950, which was denied the opportunity to walk through the front doors of the Fredericksburg Community Center for their graduation ceremony. Instead of entering through the back door, they held Fredericksburg’s first civil rights protest at the Community Center with the support of the Fredericksburg Branch NAACP and marched nonviolently in their caps and gowns downtown to the Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site) where they chose to hold their commencement ceremony.
Our communities are frustrated and saddened. As our country and local communities struggle with our responses to the shocking tragic murder of George Floyd by police and other actions of brutality against persons of color over the years, we are proud of much of the nation’s peaceful responses and calls to action.