MINNEAPOLIS — Four years have passed since George Floyd was murdered by a former Minneapolis police officer. While the city has physically rebuilt, other factors like policy take much longer to change.
In recognition of that continued struggle for social justice, Minnesota nonprofit Win Back brought the community together on May 24 to continue conversations around policy changes and police violence. The "Day of Remembrance" included a brunch, and speakers such as Attorney General Keith Ellison and former Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo.
But in the middle of that event, packed with influential figures, time was also dedicated to recognizing - and awarding - young voices.
"It's truly an honor uplifting black lives and remembering the legacy of George Floyd," said Joshie Williams, who performed on stage as part of the Known MPLS choir.
Williams has spent the past two years performing on some of the regions biggest stages with the choir, but she says the murder of George Floyd four years ago also put her on a path to raise her voice in a different way.
"It was just really disheartening that that had to happen, that he had to die in the way he did," Willaims said. "It kind of fueled my fire to even pursue a career in human rights and civil rights and advocacy."
"It was just horrific to watch and I knew I couldn't just sit at home and do nothing and just kind of be sad about it," said Janae Perry, who was a 14 year old student in Roseville in 2020, but didn't let her age stop her from taking part in social justice work.
In the years since, she has also tutored middle school students and coordinating blood drives to help more than 200 patients.
On Friday, Perry was one of four students recognized with scholarships to continue their efforts while pursuing higher education.
"I will be attending the University of Minnesota," Perry said.
For the students, being honored on stage by elders who influenced them, was an honor in itself.
"What really was inspiring today is that I've never been in an environment and a space where intergenerational relationships are at the forefront like this," said Jerome Richardson, another honoree. "Today was designed in a way that made it feel like we can work together."
Jerome Richardson says that unity is critical. As a student in St. Paul, he says it sometimes felt like young activists were isolated. In the years since graduating, and pursuing an education at Temple University, he's determined to uplift others.
"I do want to be a civil rights lawyer. My passions, particularly, are international relations," he said. "I want to be with the United Nations and make sure that the geo-politics have a center on human rights."
For now, he and his peers say they're simple grateful to be centered themselves.
"The feeling is surreal," said Monaea Upton. "I'm really emotional but also very empowered. I've come this far. At the time (of George Floyd's murder) I didn't know where I wanted to go, what I wanted to do. I just knew I wanted to do something."
Upton quickly turned that desire into social action. She joined the Known MPLS choir, started her own dance company and recorded an audio diary for Vice News in 2020 as a teenager navigating the murder of George Floyd as a teenager in North Minneapolis.
"Knowing that I have a voice and knowing that it's being heard and people actually acknowledge me... it feels like I'm on top of the world," Upton said.
Later in the day, the Youth Teen Summit brought together even more local youth leaders in a panel to discuss to keep social justice advocacy efforts moving forward.
WATCH MORE ON KARE 11+
Download the free KARE 11+ app for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and other smart TV platforms to watch more from KARE 11 anytime! The KARE 11+ app includes live streams of all of KARE 11's newscasts. You'll also find on-demand replays of newscasts; the latest from KARE 11 Investigates, Breaking the News and the Land of 10,000 Stories; exclusive programs like Verify and HeartThreads; and Minnesota sports talk from our partners at Locked On Minnesota.
- Add KARE 11+ on Roku here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Roku Channel Store.
- Add KARE 11+ on Fire TV here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Amazon App Store.
- Learn more about the KARE 11+ app for Apple TV in the Apple App Store.
- Learn more about KARE 11+ here.
Watch more local news:
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities and across Minnesota in our YouTube playlist: