Today I saw this photo of a man weeping at the news of the Derek Chauvin verdict. 

The conviction of the Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd, coupled with that photo, put me in mind of a watershed moment in American history, VE Day. 

Like VE Day, this joyous moment in history is tempered by the realization that is is also associated with enormous suffering, violence, and injustice — in this case, hundreds of years of it for Black Americans.

We’d do well to remember, too, America’s post-war commitment to rebuild nations brought to ruin by the insane violence inspired by leaders whose power was built on lies and evil ideology.

As we did in 1945, Americans must conceive and execute the equivalent of a Marshall Plan to right the wrongs of racism, and progress toward the vision of equality and justice that we find in our founding documents.

Let us meet this moment with a commitment to match the boldness of Marshall Plan, face our past, and work for a better future for all Americans.