Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty on Tuesday for the murder of George Floyd.
The jury convicted Chauvin, 45, on all counts, including second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
CNN reports jurors deliberated for more than 10 hours over the course of two days to reach their decision.
Video footage showed crowds celebrating outside the courthouse when the verdict was read by Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill. Some people even had barbecues to celebrate the jury’s decision.
CNN correspondent Sara Sidner spoke to George Floyd’s brother over the phone after Chauvin was convicted. Floyd’s brother said he felt “relief and released” after the verdict was read.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris made televised remarks Tuesday evening from the White House following the jury’s decision.
“The guilty verdict does not bring back George, but through the family’s pain, we are finding purpose so George’s legacy will not just be about his death, but about what we must do in his memory,” President Biden said.
“Today we feel a sigh of relief. Still, it can’t take away the pain. A measure of justice isn’t the same as equal justice. This verdict brings us a step closer,” Harris said before turning the microphone over to Biden.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison also gave televised press conference, saying, “I would not call today’s verdict justice, however—because justice implies restoration. But it is accountability.”
“The work of our generation is to put unaccountable law enforcement behind us,” he continued later in his comments.
Several topics immediately started trending on Twitter following the reading of the jury’s verdict, including #BlackLivesMatter, #DerekChauvinTrial, “rot in h-ll,” “bail revoked,” and “Breonna Taylor.”
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Van Jones also starting trending on Twitter due to his commentary on CNN.
Van Jones on Derek Chauvin being handcuffed and led out of court: "That is what justice looks like." pic.twitter.com/A8MkQrjuH2
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 20, 2021
As previously reported, Chauvin was recorded on May 25 kneeling on Floyd’s neck for about nine minutes as the Black man pleaded that he couldn’t breathe.
Floyd was arrested for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 bill at a grocery store. He was handcuffed and lying on his stomach, when Chauvin — who is White — pressed a knee into his neck. The officer refused to budge even as Floyd’s body went limp and bystanders pleaded with him to stop.
