In the 13 months since Chauvin pressed his knee to Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes, the nation has been forced to confront the fact that racial injustice remains deeply rooted in the American experience. Cities have made progress in providing\u00a0alternatives to policing and in making policing itself less dangerous and more effective for the public. The nation has even embraced a new federal holiday that acknowledges America’s devastating history of enslavement and racial discrimination, one that also speaks of inspiration and hope.<\/p>\n
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Protest on Aug. 28, 2020, in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Carolyn Kaster\/AP)<\/span><\/p>\n And yet, even as hard and necessary conversations and actions have taken place, police across the country killed\u00a01,127 people last year, according to data collected by Mapping Police Violence. Nearly half of those killed (48%) were Black and Latino people, even though combined the two groups make up only 30% of Americans.<\/p>\n America clearly has\u00a0many more mountains to climb in its struggle\u00a0as a nation for true equality and justice.<\/p>\n Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Philando Castile, Jonathan Price, Sincere Pierce, Angelo Quinto.<\/em><\/p>\n The Chauvin case has ended with a just verdict and a fair sentence.\u00a0The essential work of ensuring\u00a0racial justice very much remains.<\/p>\n Gianna Floyd is only 7 years old.\u00a0Racism, injustice and police brutality already have cost her more than anyone should have to sacrifice in a lifetime.<\/p>\n Gianna Floyd, 7, said in court Friday via video that if she could say anything to George Floyd, her father, it would be: "I miss you and I love you." (Photo: AP)<\/span><\/p>\n In a heart-rending victim impact statement Friday, Gianna said via video that if she could tell\u00a0her father anything it would be:\u00a0“I miss you and I love you.”<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2021\/06\/25\/USAT\/265be435-514c-411b-acb1-c919f4fd3a47-AP21176681270866.jpg?width=540&height=&fit=bounds&auto=webp\")
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