April 20, 2021

Our statement on the conviction of officer Derek Chauvin.

The Des Moines Black Liberation Movement started in response to George Floyd's life being snatched from this earth, on camera, at the hands and knee of Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin. Today, Minneapolis Police Department Officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murder. Our work does not end with this conviction.

We ask you, what is "justice" to a dead man? What does a jury's declaration of "guilty" mean to a grave?

Police accountability is rare, but police violence is not. We are not victorious yet.

We, like our ancestors, believe in abolition. Our hope is that, one day, prisons and police will vanish from this earth. We believe that justice will be served when no more blood from Black peoples' bodies is spilled in the street. One murderous cop's conviction isn't enough to ensure it will never happen again. We believe George Floyd's legacy to be more than another human put into prison, but to put an end to policing. To abolish a system that perpetuates the enslavement and slaughter of Black folks. To end the pigs ablility to murder, manipulative, abuse, traumatize and terrorize our community. To eradicate all systems that uphold white supremacy.

In our fight for freedom and justice we demand:

All racists must be terminated. The city of Des Moines must identify and fire all DMPD officers with violent records as well as fire Scott Sanders and Dana Wingert.

The legalization and decriminalization of cannabis. The Des Moines city council must act on the cannabis task force.

Defunding and abolition of all law enforcement.

All peace and power to all the people.