Baltimore: Celebrate victory, continue struggle against police terror

Baltimore demonstrators rallied at City Hall on April 20 after it was announced that Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all three counts in the murder of George Floyd. 

Organized by the Peoples Power Assembly, protesters made their way through several working-class neighborhoods and past Baltimore City’s Correctional Center and Police Headquarters.

The prevailing attitude among the participants was one of celebration. Many had been unsure if Chauvin would actually be declared guilty, and braced themselves for the very real possibility that the cries from last summer’s hard-fought rebellion would continue to go unheard.

Impassioned comments from key voices of the Baltimore struggle bookended the march. Public housing activist Rev. Annie Chambers and Tawanda Jones, sister of slain Baltimore police victim Tyrone West, were just two of the speakers. Their powerful declarations of victory, as well as their urgent calls for continued mobilization and community justice, were essential in bolstering the crowd’s morale.

The outcome of this trial marks a huge win for the movement, but the struggle continues as Derek Chauvin still awaits sentencing. Chauvin is also only one among the countless racist, murderous cops that must be held accountable for their crimes. We must continue to act in solidarity with all victims of police brutality and those who fight back tirelessly.

For updates on upcoming events, please visit the Peoples Power Assembly on Facebook or call (410) 218-4835.