House Speaker Nancy Pelosi thanked George Floyd on Tuesday for “sacrificing” his “life for justice.”
The California Democrat spoke after Derek Chauvin, the officer accused of killing Floyd last May, was convicted on one count of second-degree murder, one count of third-degree murder, and one count of second-degree manslaughter.
“Thank you, George Floyd, for sacrificing your life for justice, for being there to call out to your mom,” she said during a press conference with the Congressional Black Caucus. “How heartbreaking was that? Call out for your mom, ‘I can’t breathe.’ But because of you and because of thousands, millions of people around the world who came out for justice, your name will always be synonymous with justice.”
‘THIS VERDICT IS NOT JUSTICE’: AOC REACTS TO DEREK CHAUVIN CONVICTION
Speaker Pelosi: “Thank you George Floyd for sacrificing your life for justice … Because of you and because of thousands, millions of people around the world who came out for justice, your name will always be synonymous with justice.”pic.twitter.com/JfapSsKdtX
— The Recount (@therecount) April 20, 2021
Floyd’s girlfriend, Courteney Ross, expressed a similar sentiment to the congresswoman’s on Tuesday.
“I loved him with all my heart,” she said. “And I’d do anything to have him standing next to me again today. But I know he gave his life so this could happen, and I know he gave his life so that other people’s cases can get reopened, we can reexamine the cases that were closed.”
George Floyd’s girlfriend, Courteney Ross, reacts to Derek Chauvin being convicted of murder in Minneapolis:
“I know that he gave his life so that other people’s cases can get reopened.” pic.twitter.com/Gj540eblGX
— Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs (@NickAtNews) April 20, 2021
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey issued a tweet that said Floyd’s life “bettered” the city in which he died.
“George Floyd came to Minneapolis to better his life,” the Democratic mayor said on Twitter. “But ultimately his life will have bettered our city. The jury joined in a shared conviction that has animated Minneapolis for the last 11 months. They refused to look away and affirmed he should still be here today.”
George Floyd came to Minneapolis to better his life. But ultimately his life will have bettered our city. The jury joined in a shared conviction that has animated Minneapolis for the last 11 months. They refused to look away and affirmed he should still be here today.
— Mayor Jacob Frey (@MayorFrey) April 20, 2021
Pelosi followed her remarks with a tweet.
“George Floyd should be alive today. His family’s calls for justice for his murder were heard around the world. He did not die in vain. We must make sure other families don’t suffer the same racism, violence & pain, and we must enact the George Floyd #JusticeInPolicing Act,” she said.
George Floyd should be alive today. His family’s calls for justice for his murder were heard around the world. He did not die in vain. We must make sure other families don’t suffer the same racism, violence & pain, and we must enact the George Floyd #JusticeInPolicing Act. https://t.co/tWln9NRg1g
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) April 20, 2021
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Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died in May 2020 after being arrested on suspicion of using a counterfeit bill. Chauvin was seen placing a knee on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes as Floyd repeatedly said he could not breathe.
Chauvin, a 45-year-old white man, could now face decades behind bars and perhaps the rest of his life. He was taken into custody, and his bail was revoked. The judge announced that his sentencing trial would take place in eight weeks. Defense attorneys for Chauvin can seek an appeal.
