Consequent to the death of Mr. George Floyd, killed by a Minneapolis police officer with a knee to his neck and throat that resulted in American civil unrest and racial reckoning, this paper offers a collective reaction. First, this document provides a brief synopsis of the current Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) program to illustrate and contextualize the authors’ perspectives. Second, some raw, poignant past and present discriminatory behaviors and racist practices by the criminal justice system, specifically, against African Americans, are offered. Third, the authors address five specifically curated questions that speak to the current civil unrest’s nature through their individual perspectives which culminates with a collective message for VTC executives, support teams, and beyond. Lastly, the authors offer a series of recommendations to increase understanding and consciousness within the VTC program.
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