Five years have passed since George Floyd's life was brutally taken by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin on May 25, 2020. As we approach this solemn anniversary, we find ourselves at a crossroads where efforts towards lasting change sparked by his murder feels both tantalizingly close and disturbingly distant.

George Floyd's murder was not an isolated incident—it was a stark manifestation of the systemic racism that has plagued our nation since its foundation. His death, captured on video by then-17-year-old Darnella Frazier, ignited the largest civil rights demonstrations since the 1960s, with over 2,000 cities witnessing protests demanding justice and fundamental change.

The Moment That Shook the World

In the immediate aftermath of Floyd's killing, the world witnessed an unprecedented surge in racial consciousness. The Black Lives Matter movement reached its highest point of support, with 67% of Americans backing the cause. Corporate America pledged over $66 billion for racial justice initiatives, and institutions across sectors rushed to implement Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs.

For immigrant communities, particularly those from Latin America, Floyd's death resonated deeply. Many of our community members have experienced police brutality, discrimination, and the dehumanizing effects of systemic racism. We understood that the same forces that killed George Floyd are those that separate our families through deportation and deny our children equal opportunities. This was also a calling to reflect on racial discrimination and colorism among us, and how race and class relations in our countries of origin are reshaped by race relations in the U.S.

Building Bridges Across Communities of Color

Floyd's murder catalyzed the strengthening of multi-racial coalitions that recognized the interconnectedness of our struggles. Latino, Asian American, Native American, and Muslim communities began working together with Black organizers in unprecedented ways. These alliances understood a fundamental truth: our liberation is interconnected.

The formation of these coalitions wasn't just symbolic—it was strategic. When communities of color work together, we become a formidable force for change. Organizations like the Black Alliance for Just Immigration have long understood this, working to build bridges between Black Americans and immigrant communities while fighting both anti-Black racism and xenophobia. Alianza Americas is convening the Permanent Seminary Mirtha Colón to host conversations on Afrodescendent and Indigenous Peoples in Latin America and in the United States.  

The Backlash and the Long Game

However, as the shock of Floyd's murder faded, so did much institutional commitment to change. A powerful backlash emerged from those threatened by genuine racial progress. Claims of "reverse discrimination" grew louder. Corporate diversity, equity and inclusion programs disappeared as quickly as they had emerged. State legislatures passed laws banning discussions of racial justice in schools, and other local efforts are centered on banning books around race relations..

This pushback was coordinated by right-wing strategists who have spent decades undermining civil rights progress. Recent Pew Research data reveals the sobering reality: five years later, 72% of Americans say the increased focus on racial inequality has not improved life for Black people. Most Americans (54%) say police-Black relations are no better than before Floyd's killing.

The Current Assault on Racial Justice

The reelection of Donald Trump has brought this backlash to its extreme. Within hours of taking office, Trump signed executive orders dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs throughout the federal government and intimidating private organizations into abandoning equity initiatives. These orders direct federal agencies to investigate and potentially prosecute companies, universities, and nonprofits for their diversity efforts.

For immigrant communities, this assault is particularly dangerous. The same administration attacking diversity, equity and inclusion is ramping up deportations and scapegoating immigrant communities. The connections are clear: the forces attacking Black communities are the same ones attacking immigrant communities, using the same playbook of fear and division.

Why Multi-Racial Coalitions Are More Important Than Ever

In this moment of heightened attack, strong multi-racial coalitions become even more urgent. History teaches us that communities of color are stronger together. The Civil Rights Movement succeeded through Black leadership and alliances across racial lines.

Today's challenges require the same approach. When ICE targets Latino communities, Black, Asian, and white communities must show resistance. When police violence claims another Black life, immigrant communities must show solidarity. Effective coalitions work because they're based on shared values, not just shared oppression.

These coalitions require intentional relationship-building and mutual accountability. At Alianza Americas, we've learned that solidarity work is most effective when it centers the leadership of those most directly affected, addresses the specific ways different communities experience oppression, builds long-term relationships rather than crisis responses, and connects local struggles to broader systems of power.

The Path Forward: Sustaining Hope Through Action

Five years after George Floyd's murder, it would be easy to despair. Institutional changes have largely failed to materialize, corporate commitments have proven hollow, and political backlash has intensified. But despair is a luxury our communities cannot afford.

The seeds planted in 2020 continue growing in community organizations, in young people's consciousness, and in relationships built between communities. Grassroots organizations are deepening their analysis and building stronger coalitions. At Alianza Americas, we see this daily: Latino leaders showing up for Black communities facing police violence, Black organizers supporting immigrant families facing deportation, and coalitions that understand our struggles are interconnected.

Our Collective Responsibility

As we commemorate the fifth anniversary of George Floyd's murder, we must be honest about our progress. The systems that killed George Floyd remain largely intact. Police continue killing Black people at alarming rates. But we have also seen the power that emerges when communities unite across racial lines.

For those of us who are not Black, our solidarity cannot be conditional. True solidarity means showing up consistently, learning from Black leadership and Black history, and understanding that fighting anti-Black racism is central to dismantling all systems of oppression. This means supporting Black-led organizations, challenging anti-Black racism in our own communities, and recognizing that policies harming Black communities create conditions that harm all communities of color.

Looking Ahead: The Movement Continues

George Floyd's death was a tragedy, but it also revealed the possibility of a different America—one where communities of color stand together, where white supremacy is challenged at every turn, and where justice is not just a dream but daily practice. That America is still possible, but only if we continue building the multi-racial coalitions that make it achievable. We honor George Floyd by continuing the work his death inspired, building a world where no one dies simply because of the color of their skin. Efforts towards diversity, equity and inclusion must continue as we continue building communities in which we all belong and where we all are treated with dignity and care.

The struggle continues, and we continue it together.

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