“Je Suis Chauvin.”
By: S. R. Martin
Tags: Peacebuilding, Community Engagement, George Floyd

“Je Suis Chauvin.” by K. Silber

An Invitation for a Shared Accountability Campaign

“And how are we to treat others?” “There are no others.” —- Ramana Maharshi

This is NOT an invitation to shame anyone OR provide a shield for murder OR racist acts OR looting OR white guilt.

Instead, this is an opportunity to stand together- alongside those who are arrested AND those who arrest them, alongside minority communities AND the law enforcement community, and alongside government officials AND outraged citizens.

The day after 12 people were murdered in a French newspaper’s offices in January of 2015, the slogan “Je Suis Charlie” began circulating internationally.

The campaign was a logical answer to the question, “Who is Charlie?”

The spontaneous refrain “#IamCharlie” was borne because of the ease of identifying with the victims of violence- especially when they look like you.

The much more challenging and dangerous task, however, is to identify with the perpetrator- especially when they look like you.

Officer Derek Chauvin did not kill George Floyd alone. The system that inspired an officer of the peace to kneel on another human’s neck and trained Officer Thao to aggressively protect the practice is the same system that trained Officer Lane and Officer Keung to back down complacently- killed George Floyd. The system that led to the death of George Floyd is part of a larger one authorized by a democratically elected government of which I am an active member.

The statement, “I am Officer Chauvin” brought tears to my eyes the first time I said it out loud, but as white, middle-aged male living in a democratically governed society, I am complicit in the murder of George Floyd.

Perhaps identifying with Officer Chauvin is too strong? Okay, then which cop are you? Which role do you play or choose not to play? Does learning about implicit bias or making a sign and protesting provide absolution from this role?

I am not advocating for the release of Derek Chauvin, but to call for the charge of murder is a plea for an equal attribution of the law and should not be conflated with justice. In the same way that incarcerating 100’s of thousands of Americans has not led to end of crime, the arrest and persecution of a single officer (or four of them) will not begin to address the systemic racism or institutional violence against people of color in the United States. Instead, the myopic focus on a criminal charge and conviction is a distraction from the larger issue and opportunity.

The process of Restorative Justice requires self-reflection, accountability, and a recognition that we are all connected in an inter-relational web. Seeing our role in that web is an essential first step in the process of systemic reformation and transformation.

I propose a nation-wide campaign which invites the space for every citizen of this country to be introspective and ask “which Officer am I?”

Choose one of the four or use your own name. “I am Officer Martin and I will no longer be complicit.” #nolongercomplicit. -NOT as a show of solidarity, but as an opportunity to reflect on your own accountability and shared responsibility to affect change moving forward.

So that we can no longer hide behind shame OR provide a shield for murder OR ignore racist acts OR condone looting, violence OR those who promote violence. This is an invitation to stand together- to claim our mutual humanity and accountability alongside our shared sisterhood and brotherhood.

Together, we can create victory over “it” rather than over “them” because together we are all George Floyd AND Officer Derek Chauvin.