
The world is still reacting to the conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. After kneeling on the neck of George Floyd for more than nine minutes, Chauvin was convicted on two counts of murder and one count of manslaughter. Immediately after a verdict was reached, two public officials in the state of Minnesota issued statements regarding the verdict.
“This has to end. We need true justice. That’s not one case. That is a social transformation that says that nobody’s beneath the law and nobody’s above it. This verdict reminds us that we must make enduring, systematic, societal change,” Minneapolis Attorney General Keith Ellison stated.
“George Perry Floyd Jr. came to Minneapolis to better his life. But ultimately his life will have bettered our city. Today the jury joined in a shared conviction that has animated Minneapolis for the last 11 months: they refused to look away,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey added.
Chauvin will now be held in state custody as he awaits sentencing. His bail has been revoked and he faces up to 40 years in jail. Sentencing has been set for eight weeks from today.