Honoring the memory of George Floyd

NewsMay 25, 2021

Today marks one year since the murder of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer who kneeled on his neck until he could no longer breathe.

George Floyd’s murder forced a national reckoning on racial injustice in our country. It woke many of us up to the horrifying racism so many people continue to endure and compelled us to do everything we can to dismantle systemic racism of all forms and at all levels of society. This is a battle that is far from being won. Over the past year, we have seen Black and brown people bear the brunt of the COVID pandemic, Asian Americans increasingly targeted in violent, racist attacks, and hundreds more people of color lose their lives as a result of interactions with the police as well as because of the inequity and injustice embedded within our economic and healthcare systems.

We are proud of our members who have stood up for racial justice, attending protests, engaging friends and loved ones, and demanding better from employers. Our member-led Executive Board has been exploring the ways that NUHW can play a more active role in community-led racial justice initiatives, such as the redirection of funding from police to community services, the expansion of our work as a Sanctuary Union, and our involvement in the Healthy California NOW and Black Health Matters campaigns. We also know that we must do better. Over the past year, our union has also been looking inward, taking part in anti-racism trainings, and discussing what more we can do to fully adhere to our culture of inclusivity and to help dismantle white supremacy culture.

On this day, let us honor the memory of George Floyd, as well as the many other lives which have been lost this past year, and recommit ourselves to the fight for justice.