Five years ago, the world watched in horror as George Floyd begged for his life. His murder forced a global reckoning with a truth that Black communities have long known: Accountability in America is still selective, and Black life remains negotiable.
George Floyd’s killing didn’t just expose a broken system — it cracked it wide open. What followed was not only international outrage but also something more rare and powerful: cross-sector collaboration. In 2020, community leaders, faith institutions, artists, educators, and everyday people came together in shared pain and shared purpose.
But five years later, much of that energy has faded.
What’s changed? The language. The statements. Some policies. A few more seats at the table.
But the systems? Largely unchanged.
The conditions that led to George Floyd’s death still exist — just harder to talk about now that the headlines have moved on.
What must change is our consistency. Our memory. Our commitment to stay in the work, even when it’s no longer trending.
That’s why the nonprofit I lead, Win Back, created the Day of Remembrance — not as a commemoration, but as a call to recommit. It’s a reminder that this is not about a moment in 2020. It’s about a movement — one rooted in what came before and still unfolding now.
The Day of Remembrance reflects the kind of work required to transform our reality: creating spaces that tell the truth, honor the pain, and build collective power.
Not just once a year — but every day, in how we educate, organize, and invest in our communities.
Because what we fail to remember, we are doomed to repeat.
Leslie E. Redmond is the executive director of Win Back, a violence prevention, arts, and public safety nonprofit organization. For more information, visit www.winbacknonprofit.com.