JUSTICE FOR GEORGE FLOYD: DEREK CHAUVIN GUILTY VERDICT

George Floyd’s family shared their pain and grief with the world for nearly one year. But on Tuesday, they finally felt some relief. "Today, we are able to breathe again," Philonise Floyd told news reporters.

Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis Police officer who kneeled on George Floyd’s neck for over 9 minutes last year was finally found guilty in the murder of George Floyd on Tuesday.

After a 10-hour deliberation by the jury over two days, Derek Chauvin’s guilty verdict was welcomed with several waves of celebration not only in Minneapolis, but also across the country.

The death of George Floyd, a black man on May 25, 2020, led to what many describe as the largest protest movement in the history of the United States, forcing America to reckon with matters to do with racial injustice, along with police accountability. George Floyd’s family joins a list of Black men killed at the hands of the police.

"We have to always understand that we have to march. We will have to do this for life," said Philonise Floyd. "We have to protest because it seems like this is a never-ending cycle." "I'm not just fighting for George anymore," he added. "I'm fighting for everyone around the world," further reiterated Philonise Floyd.

On Tuesday, Derek Chauvin learned of his fate after being found guilty on three charges: manslaughter, second-degree murder, and third degree murder.

Chauvin’s bail was immediately revoked by the court and was immediately put in custody, with the sentencing likely to take place in two months, and Chauvin may end up spending decades in jail.

In the state of Minnesota, second-degree murder comes with a maximum sentence of up to 40 years behind bars, while third-degree murder is punishable by up to 25 years in prison. Second-degree manslaughter in Minnesota is punishable by up to 10 years behind bars, meaning that Chauvin may spend decades in prison.

The 12-member jury that listed to the case took less than a day to arrive at their verdict following a highly-charged three-week trial that left the state of Minneapolis literally on the edge.

Hundreds of people cheered outside the court the moment the verdict was announced.

Ben Crump, the Floyd’s family lawyer said that such a ruling marked a “turning point in history” for the United States.

“Painfully earned justice has finally arrived,” tweeted Mr. Ben Crump. “It sends a clear message on the need for accountability of law enforcement.”

President Joe Biden along with Vice-President Kamala Harris also called the Floyd family after the verdict had been issued saying that “at least now there is some justice”.

Activists also said that justice had been done and feel as though a weight had been lifted from their shoulders.

Their relief, together with that of George Floyd’s family is shared by many citizens in the city, a place that had been on the edge for months. It’s a landmark case for the use of force by the police against black people and a significant break with the past.

Disclaimer: We do not own the title image of this blog nor do we own the images above!