Observing the George Floyd Murder Anniversary

As a nation, we are commemorating the one-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police officers on May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis. The resulting worldwide demand for social justice continues to impact us all. As a school community, we are taking time to pause, reflect, and connect as we honor the life and legacy of George Floyd.
 
On May 25, in the Middle School, students observed a moment of silence and took time to reflect on the anniversary in open discussion spaces and affinity group meetings. The conversations provided students and PAC members a safe space to share personal experiences, perspectives, and questions about George Floyd and racial justice without judgment.
 
On May 26, in the Upper School, students and PAC members met during Community Time to unpack what has happened in the wake of the tragedy. We viewed footage of George Floyd's family talking about their loss and efforts to seek justice. We recalled the protests at their height and the continued pressure for police reforms nationally. Some of the questions we considered as we contextualized where we are today included the following:
 
-How were you personally impacted by George Floyd’s murder and the subsequent racial justice protests/reckoning last summer?
 
-What is one perspective/experience related to George Floyd’s death/subsequent racial justice protests that is not your own that you learned and want to honor?
 
-What is one (re)commitment you’d like to make as we commemorate George Floyd’s life, and the lives of so many lost to racial injustice, as we reflect on the last year?
 
We hope that these reflections will guide ongoing conversations to honor the memory of George Floyd and so many others--within the Crystal community and beyond--as we strive for a more just, equitable, and safe society.