× Washington community leaders see some progress in racial justice since George Floyd’s death, but far from enough By Melissa Hellmann, The Seattle Times Published: May 30, 2021, 10:56am Share: George Floyd’s murder by then Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin served as a wake-up call for many. It sparked months of civil unrest and promises by companies and lawmakers to dismantle anti-Blackness. As Black community leaders look back over the past year, they say that not enough has changed. While they expressed hope that public perception of racism has shifted, they wondered if it would survive for the long haul. In a state where Black people make up 4.4% of the population, some Black leaders in Washington say they have become more resolute in their communities’ liberation. In the past year they created funding opportunities for Black-led organizations, started racial equity consulting firms, and spearheaded legislation to hold law enforcement accountable.