Yesterday evening many breathed a sigh of relief as the jury released the verdict in Derek Chauvin’s case, convicting him on all counts he faced in the death of George Floyd.

As many commentators have noted, this verdict does not signify justice. True justice would be a world in which George Floyd was still alive. True justice would be a criminal justice system that did not systematically target people of color, that did not default to treating people of color (and especially Black men) as threats.

But accountability for Derek Chauvin is an important step in the quest for justice. The verdict sends an important message: that George Floyd’s life mattered, and that his murderer will face consequences. There is still much work to be done — for a more just and equitable criminal justice system, as well as for a more just and equitable world — and hopefully this verdict will be the beginning of more steps in that direction.