Chauvin Guilty Verdict ‘Small Step Forward’: BLM NB Founder

The founder of Black Lives Matter New Brunswick says Derek Chauvin’s guilty verdict was a “small step” forward for the rights of marginalized communities.

Matthew Martin said he followed the trial closely and was emotional watching the verdict read Tuesday afternoon.

“You want to celebrate, but you don’t because it’s not something you should have to celebrate,” Martin said. “The video footage showed it. In my opinion, it was pretty open and shut.”

A video of Floyd’s arrest showed Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes. The footage helped bring the Black Lives Matter movement back into the international spotlight and prompted worldwide support for anti-racist movements.

Black Lives Matter originally began as a hashtag after George Zimmerman was acquitted in the death of Trayvon Martin. It has since been adapted into a social movement and mantra to protest the killings of many Black Americans during interactions with police.

Martin started the New Brunswick chapter after Floyd’s death last spring.

Nearly one year later, he says Chauvin’s guilty verdict doesn’t change the fact that people are still dying as a result of anti-Black racism.

“This is really just a small, small step. This is one life,” Martin said. “A young girl [Ma’Khiya Bryant] was shot and killed by police officers just before the verdict was in.”

Martin also cited the recent death of Daunte Wright, as well as Breonna Taylor, a Louisville woman who was fatally shot six times by police officers in her apartment last year.

“This isn’t just something that happens here and there,” Martin said. “So while [the Chauvin verdict] was a small step forward, there’s still a lot to be done to bring accountability to our police officers.”

Martin said George Floyd’s legacy helped legitimize many social movements advocating for better treatment of marginalized groups.

“They’re starting to find their individual voices and speak,” Martin said. “Not only our Black communities but our Indigenous, our Asian communities. They’re beginning to speak up for racialized communities and say ‘there is a fundamental problem here that needs to be addressed.'”

Since establishing Black Lives Matter New Brunswick, Martin has met and worked with various members of the provincial government.

The group also helped lobby for a commissioner to review systemic racism in New Brunswick and received funding to directly study the impacts of systemic racism in the province.

The New Brunswick chapter has also called on local police forces to improve transparency and accountability for the community.

Martin says they’ve seen some improvements since the chapter began, but it’s important to keep on pushing for change.

“Our police have really just started to batten down the hatches, and have kind of been waiting for the storm to pass by,” he said. “But we continue to see community members call out the police for their lack of transparency and communication.”

“Much like what’s happening in the States, and with this verdict, there’s still so much work that needs to be done.”

Reflecting on the legacy of George Floyd, Martin said it’s also important to remember the names of other innocent Black people whose deaths did not necessarily receive justice.

“We owe [George Floyd] a lot. He helped point out a huge flaw in our society,” Martin said. “But we don’t leave that at just George Floyd. We see the same now with Daunte Wright, with Breonna Taylor… These folks deserve to be remembered, not only by their families but by their community members and folks around the world. They’re just victims in such a huge issue.”