Demonstrators in Minneapolis celebrated with jubilation and relief in response to the guilty verdict in the trial of former officer Derek Chauvin on Tuesday.
Cheers broke out among the crowd gathered outside the Hennepin County Courthouse after it was announced that Chauvin was convicted of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd last year.
Among the reactions were hugs and chants of “black lives matter” after the verdict was read. 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.
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The moment Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murder in the second degree outside Hennepin County Gov Center. He was also found guilty of murder in the third degree, guilty manslaughter on the second degree, and guilty on all counts. pic.twitter.com/PQsIGuXraW
— Caroline Haskins (@caro1inehaskins) April 20, 2021
There was cheering, yelling and pandemonium the moment the crowd outside the Hennepin County Government Center learned Chauvin had been convicted of all three felonies. pic.twitter.com/C5nnDoojoe
— Danny Spewak (@DannySpewak) April 20, 2021
Video of the family shows them celebrating the guilty verdict.
One demonstrator told NBC News, “It feels like we can take the day to celebrate that we’re finally getting a taste of justice, and then tomorrow, we move on to Daunte, and we keep doing this until they give us what we need across the board.”
NBC reporter Gabe Gutierrez said that demonstrators gathered to watch the verdict via livestreams on their cellphones.
“If I had to sum up what I just saw in the last few moments, it would be relief,” he added.
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Chauvin, 45, 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.
George Floyd’s death, which occurred in May, initiated months of demonstrations and riots across the country, with many protesting racial inequality and police brutality.
