by Five Years After George Floyd: We’re Still Here, Still Fighting, and Still Demanding More
It’s been five years since the world watched in horror as George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer. Five years since his breath was taken away beneath the knee of law enforcement—his final moments unfolding on the pavement at 38th and Chicago as bystanders pleaded for his life. That moment sparked a global reckoning, with Minneapolis at the center of a renewed fight for racial justice.
But for Black Minnesotans — and for Black communities across the country, from Minnesota to Wyoming — this wasn’t just a moment. It’s our everyday reality. And five years later, the pain hasn’t faded. The trauma still echoes. And the promises of systemic change remain largely unfulfilled.
In the immediate aftermath of George Floyd’s death, we were told it would mark a turning point. Major corporations, like Target — headquartered right here in Minnesota — vowed to lead the way on racial equity. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs were launched. Bold statements were made. Investments were pledged. Hope surged.
Now, much of that momentum has vanished.
Target recently announced a rollback of key DEI efforts. Job cuts have followed. Progress has stalled. The message is loud and clear: Our lives matter when the cameras are rolling — but not when it’s time to build lasting change.
And it’s not just corporations. Across the political landscape, Black communities are still facing the same violence, inequity, and disinvestment. We speak up — in the streets, at the ballot box, and in boardrooms — and we’re often ignored, sidelined, or silenced. The public discourse has shifted back to “law and order,” while our families are still waiting for justice, safety, and healing.
This is what political indifference looks like: Leaders who celebrate our strength but refuse to dismantle the systems that keep us in struggle. Elected officials who show up for votes but disappear after victory. Institutions that profit from our culture but walk away from our cause.
Yet we’re still here.
We are still organizing. Still resisting. Still demanding more.
From George Floyd Square in Minneapolis to small towns in Wyoming, Black Americans are creating grassroots safety plans, mentoring youth, launching Black-owned businesses, and holding power accountable. We know no one’s coming to save us — so we show up for ourselves, again and again.
We remember every life lost to police violence — not just George Floyd, but Breonna Taylor, Freddie Gray, and the many others whose names we carry. Their stories aren’t just past tragedies; they are urgent reminders of what still must change. We fight not just for justice in death, but dignity in life.
To the corporations that made bold promises: We’re paying attention.
To the politicians who count on our votes but forget our voices: We will remind you.
To our communities — in Minnesota, in Wyoming, and beyond: You are not alone. Your pain is valid. Your voice is powerful. Your leadership is essential.
Five years have passed, but we haven’t moved on. Because justice delayed is justice denied — and we’re not done.
Let us rise — together. In memory. In purpose. In power.
— Nekima Levy Armstrong
Civil Rights Attorney & Founder of the Racial Justice Network
Learn more: www.racialjusticnetwork.com
