Hunter
04/21/21
Iowa City leaders on campus and in government reacted to the Derek Chauvin guilty verdict Tuesday, saying that although justice was served in this case, there’s still a need for continued action.
The Daily Iowan reports that Mayor Bruce Teague opened last night’s City Council meeting by supporting the verdict and citing moves the Council has made regarding police reform in the city.
Teague added that the people of Iowa City expect better, and Iowa City Police expect better of themselves in comparison to some other cities around the country.
Mohammad Traore of the city’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission told the Daily Iowan that the verdict shows the need for pushing local governments and institutions to make changes. He added that while people consider the verdict justice, he didn’t feel that way. He’s quoted in the interview as saying, “I don’t see equality and fairness in George Floyd not being with his family and not being with his community.”
University of Iowa Executive Officer for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Liz Tovar said the verdict “reminds us of the anger, sadness and fear felt by our community during the last year.” In a campus wide email, Tovar listed resources for students to meet and discuss the trial and verdict.
Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Sara Sanders also released an email to her students. The DI quotes the email that included the sentence, “One trial alone does not mean society’s confrontation of systemic racism is over.”
