Planned Parenthood Statement on Today’s Verdict in Trial for George Floyd’s Murder
For Immediate Release: April 20, 2021
New York, NY — Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s president and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson issued the following statement in response to today’s announcement that former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, charged with second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd, has been found guilty on all three counts.
Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America:
“Our hearts go out to the family and friends who knew and loved George Floyd. Today’s announcement is some measure of justice, but it cannot remove the pain of his death — or that of the many other Black people who have been murdered by police.
“Today’s decision is part of our country’s long-overdue racial reckoning, while we continue to bear witness to ongoing violent attacks on Black lives, the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black, Indigenous, and Latino communities, and continued barriers to health care because of past and present racism and discrimination.
“Planned Parenthood stands in solidarity with the Movement for Black Lives. We stand with and follow the leadership of the Black community in Minnesota and across the country — a community whose resilience, compassion, and commitment to building safe and sustainable places for their families to thrive has never wavered. As George Floyd’s murder shows, policing does not equal safety. Police brutality has and continues to devastate communities of color. We must keep demanding change, including investing in community-based solutions, education, and health care, instead of militarizing police forces.
“For centuries, the systems that built and continue to uphold American society have demonstrated a callous indifference toward Black people's humanity. All officers who have murdered people must be arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. We stand in solidarity with the demands for accountability, justice, and an end to the inequity that continues to define every moment of life for Black America.”
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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care for all people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect, and without judgment, striving to create equitable access to health care. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable education and information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives. Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports the independently incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates operating health centers across the U.S.