Bay Area activists, leaders, citizens reflect on justice after Chauvin trial verdicts
Briona Arradondo reports
TAMPA, Fla. - Just less than a year after the world watched videos posted online of George Floyd telling Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin I can’t breathe, citizens, community leaders, and law enforcement are reacting to guilty verdicts in Chauvin’s murder trial.
David Jones, a committee organizer with Tampa Bay Community Action, said the reading of the verdicts felt like a moment to breathe. Rarely do we get these wins especially against officers who murder Black folks, he said. Because we know that in this system Black folks are rarely given the justice that they need especially when they’re murdered by police officers.
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Officer
Robert Deleon was born in Topeka and raised in Stafford. At age 19 he started working at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility as a Corrections Officer.
After two years, Deleon said, he felt he could be making more of a difference in the community and applied for the Hutchinson Police Department.
“I was amazed how much a positive impact in the community they make,” he said. “I made the decision, I for sure wanted to be a part of the positive impact. I’m very thankful and honored to be able to serve in a community as great as Hutchinson.”
Kyle Danahy was born in Wichita and raised in Pretty Prairie, where he graduated high school in 2012. He then joined the army and served four years on active duty in Arizona before moving back to Kansas. He then joined the Kansas National Guard and served with them until October of last year.