The Derek Chauvin conviction Tuesday on all three charges was a moment to celebrate for many in the Twin Cities and beyond who saw it as justice and accountability; but the feelings were more complicated for others who feel there is a long process ahead to prevent other deaths at the hands of police. Juxtaposed with what appears to be a delay at the state capitol for long-awaited reform bills and it’s been an emotional week for those seeking justice of their own.
It was 2009 when Toshira Garraway’s fiance Justin Teigen died after an encounter with St. Paul Police that started with a traffic stop. With the absence of video, she’s disputed the conclusion the department offered (his cause of death was listed as “asphyxia due to mechanical compression” in the recycling truck where his body was found) and has since founded Families Supporting Families Against Police Brutality to provide help for people whose loved ones have been killed by police -- currently more than 20 families.
Garraway said she had mixed emotions as the verdict was read: happiness for the family of George Floyd, but the grief she continues to feel was unchanged.
“There still is a lot of mixed feelings because I know that the system that created this is still the same,” Garraway said. “The laws are still in place that permitted (Floyd’s death) to happen, to permit a Derek Chauvin to exist. That system is still in place.”
Garraway criticized lawmakers for failing to “form a relationship with families” directly impacted, and not including them at the table for discussions over reform.
“It’s almost like a mockery to the rest of our families when we have been pleading and crying out for help and they wouldn’t help us. And as soon as there’s a big, high-profile case, these are the people who show up at the funeral? When they disregarded the rest of our families? The epitome of hurt. I can’t even put it into words,” Garraway said.
Garraway and other families know policy is the step forward and feel the current proposals in St. Paul are “the bare minimum.” Among them in the House public safety budget that passed this week: banning pretextual traffic stops, how to identify potentially problematic officers, allowing families to promptly view body camera footage after deadly encounters, adding civilian oversight and more.
Republican Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka said after Daunte Wright was shot and killed in Brooklyn Center, “we’re committed to having hearings.” On the Senate floor Thursday, Gazelka said he is changing course by “pushing the conversation” into judiciary conference committees, citing the Chauvin verdict and Department of Justice investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department.
“Clearly all three counts guilty was like letting air out of the balloon where lots of people were able to just let down a little bit and that was really good news but saying that I still think now we need a pause of adding extra meetings,” Gazelka said. “Just think about what the DOJ’s about to do.”
Gazelka said he supports the DOJ investigation and they will listen to the results when they are available. In a statement DFL Senator Ron Latz said Gazelka “walked back his promise.”
Garraway’s group, Families Supporting Families Against Police Brutality, is holding a rally and march Saturday ending at the governor’s residence, calling on their own loved ones’ cases to be reopened and prosecuted.
She said she worries that people who protested since last year -- as well as lawmakers -- will relax feeling like the system worked in this case and doesn’t need changes.
“The people sitting in political seats right now in this moment are there for a reason,” Garraway said. “They need to be doing all they can as human beings to change this around for the people and for the community. But most of all as human beings. They should be addressing our hurting families. We didn’t deserve this. Our loved ones didn’t deserve this. They should be addressing our families and they’re not doing that.”