It has been five years since the world watched the murder of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. Five years — since George Floyd was slowly suffocated under the weight of multiple police officers — his life extinguished in front of a crowd of horrified witnesses at 38th and Chicago. Five years since Minneapolis became the epicenter of a global movement for racial justice.
But for Black Minnesotans, this has never been just a moment. It is our lived reality. And five years later, the pain still lingers, the trauma still reverberates, and the promises of change have too often been broken.
We were told that George Floyd’s death would not be in vain. We were told that corporations, including Target — the retail giant headquartered in our backyard — were committed to advancing racial equity. DEI programs were created. Investments were promised. Statements were made. Photos were taken.
And now? Target has announced a rollback of key DEI initiatives. Jobs have been cut. Progress has stalled. And the message to our community is clear: Our lives matter when the cameras are rolling, but not when it’s time to make lasting structural change.
The political establishment has followed suit. Black communities continue to face police violence, economic inequality, housing instability, and disinvestment. And when we speak out — whether in the streets, at the polls, or in boardrooms — we are often ignored or punished. The public narrative has shifted back to “law and order,” while our families are still waiting for justice, safety and healing.
This is what political indifference looks like: leaders who praise our resilience but refuse to challenge the systems that keep us struggling. Policymakers who court our votes and then forget our names. Institutions that commodify our culture but abandon our cause.
But let me be clear: We are still here.
We are still fighting. We are still organizing. We are still demanding more.
From George Floyd Square to the halls of the State Capitol, Black Minnesotans are refusing to be silenced. We are creating community safety strategies, supporting our youth, building Black-owned businesses, and holding power to account — because we know that no one is coming to save us. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.
We remember the Black lives lost to police violence — here in Minnesota and across the country. We carry their memories; their stories are not isolated tragedies. We carry their names and their stories with us as we continue to fight for a world where Black lives are valued — not just in death, but in life.
To the corporations who made promises: We are watching. To the elected officials who think we will forget: We will remind you. To our community: You are not alone. Your pain is real. Your voice is powerful. Your leadership matters.
Five years after George Floyd’s murder, the world may have moved on. But we haven’t. Because justice delayed is justice denied, and we still have work to do.
Let us continue to rise together. In memory, in purpose, in power.
Nekima Levy Armstrong is a civil rights attorney and founder of the Racial Justice Network. For more information, visit www.racialjusticenetwork.com.