Statements & Press Releases
April 27, 2021: Statement by Director Avis E. Buchanan on the Derek Chauvin Verdict
The guilty verdict in the Derek Chauvin murder trial is a long overdue step towards police accountability in this country. Despite the verdict, the recent police killings of children and young people are tragic reminders that racist and violent policing remains a deadly scourge in police departments across this country, including the District’s Metropolitan Police Department. The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia remembers the Floyd family and their loss as we stand in solidarity with everyone continuing the fight for justice and meaningful police reform.