Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison celebrated his victory in getting a guilty verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the ex-officer now convicted on all counts in the killing of George Floyd.
Ellison, the lead prosecutor for the case, said the decision was only a step toward justice while alluding to it being incremental progress in a longer and broader fight for racial justice across the country.
“That long, hard, painstaking work has culminated today,” Ellison said. “I will not call today’s verdict justice, however, because justice implies true restoration. But it is accountability, which is the first step towards justice, and now the cause of justice is in your hands. And when I say your hands, I mean the hands of the people of the United States.”
DEREK CHAUVIN FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD
Chauvin was convicted guilty on all charges on Tuesday, including second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. He was taken into custody, and his bail was revoked.
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. The judge announced that his sentencing trial would take place in eight weeks. Defense attorneys for Chauvin can seek an appeal.
Floyd’s death was followed by months of demonstrations and riots in Minneapolis and in places across the country and the world, with many protesting racial inequality and police brutality.
Ellison, a former Democratic congressman, encouraged people to go out and celebrate the verdict but warned people to do so in a legal and peaceful manner.
“I urge everyone to honor the legacy of George Floyd by doing so calmly, legally, and peacefully. I urge everyone to continue the journey to transformation and justice. It’s in your hands now,” Ellison said.
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Ellison also thanked the jury who deliberated the case.
“We owe our thanks to the men and women of the jury, who gave many hours of their time and attention to carefully listening to the evidence, weighing the facts, rendering the verdict,” he said. “They are regular people from all walks of life, a lot like that bouquet of humanity on that corner on May 25 and in that courtroom. They answer the call, and they served in a landmark trial. They now deserve to return to their lives.”
