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The Advocates for Human Rights honors the memory of George Floyd on the five-year anniversary of his murder. His extrajudicial killing at the hands of police catalyzed efforts to transform a criminal legal system that perpetuates human rights violations that disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities. Justice, equality, and physical safety are essential human rights, and guaranteeing these rights for Black and Brown communities is essential to ensuring human rights for all. 

Fulfilling our human rights obligations requires ending impunity for civil rights violations and restricting unconstitutional police practices, such as racial profiling, excessive use of force, and the militarization of policing. In the five years since George Floyd's murder, local police agencies and the U.S. government have begun crucial efforts to address those violations, prevent future harms, and ensure accountability, including the conviction of the officers involved on murder and civil rights charges. The City of Minneapolis also faced accountability for larger systemic issues within the police department, accepting consent decrees with state and federal agencies to address racial discrimination and use of force.

Yet, as we make progress, we face pushback. Just days before the anniversary of the murder, the Trump Administration announced that it will abandon the federal consent decree and roll back other law enforcement reforms that were established following George Floyd's murder. The decision disregards both international human rights standards and the needs of communities; the timing is clearly meant as a symbolic rejection of everything achieved in the last five years.

When we are confronted with resistance and persistent injustice, human rights offer us a way forward, a standard we can demand, and a commitment made by leaders both past and present, all over the world. We welcome the City of Minneapolis' announcement that they will continue to reform policing to better protect human rights, despite the loss of federal oversight. Together, we can persist. Together, we can build greater respect for human rights.

Honoring the legacy of George Floyd, The Advocates for Human Rights commits to defending and demanding human rights for all people today, tomorrow, and always-we urge everyone to join us. Take action here.