Dear Borealis family,
Yesterday, we watched with bated breathe as the judge read the guilty verdict in Derek Chavin’s trial for the murder of George Floyd.
We knew that it was, frankly, too late for justice. And, the exhale we still allowed ourselves with this outcome was quickly stunted as we learned of yet another life taken. This time, a young cherub-cheeked Black girl with her whole life ahead of her. George Floyd should be alive today and no verdict will ever change that fact. Ma’Khia Bryant should be alive today as well. True justice would mean George and Ma’Khia going about their day in the world, along with Daunte Wright, Adam Toledo, and countless other Black and Brown folks whose lives have been taken by police.
Our love and support goes out to the families of George Floyd, Ma’Khia Bryant and all those who have lost loved ones to systems that enforce racism and white supremacy. It has claimed too many to name. No one should have to go through what they’ve experienced.
We are grateful to the many community organizers in Minneapolis, Chicago, Columbus and across the country who have worked tirelessly to not only hold local police departments accountable, but who are also working together to reimagine public safety by divesting from policing and investing into communities. We thank our incredible grantees, including our Communities Transforming Policing Fund grantee partners, who are creating tangible alternatives to policing and building coalitions all across the country to leverage our collective power and build a just world without police and without prisons.
At Borealis Philanthropy, we believe that radical change is possible, and our commitment will always be to resource communities organizing everyday toward their visions of liberation.
In community,
Amoretta Morris