Today, a jury in Minnesota delivered a verdict that our nation needed to hear. Since the death of George Floyd, we've had a national reckoning on racial justice and the injustices that too often befall Black citizens in this country in interactions with those meant to protect and serve us all. No one is above the law. We saw witnesses that attested to that belief, with police officers stating that the actions of the accused did not reflect their training or their profession. And because of that testimony, we saw a first step towards accountability. Some may say that justice was served. However, true justice would mean Mr. Floyd, and the many other names we've heard throughout this reckoning, would still be walking among us. This verdict is not the end of the journey, rather, it's another step in the direction we need to go, heading toward a nation where everyone is treated equal under the law regardless of their faith, their gender, or the color of their skin. I stand ready to continue this march towards justice with my colleagues in the State Legislature.