‘A pebble in the ocean’: Crowds react with joy, wariness to verdict in Floyd’s death
Updated 10:23 PM;
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London Williams stood in Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, D.C., moments before the verdict was read in George Floyd’s murder trial Tuesday, wondering how he would cope if the white police officer who killed the Black man was acquitted.
“I feel very nervous. It’s already hard as it is as a Black man in today’s society,” said Williams, standing with a date in the space near the White House renamed after Floyd’s death last May. “If this doesn’t go right, I don’t know how safe I will feel.”
Faith leaders praise Derek Chauvin’s guilty verdicts, acknowledge work ahead
Religious leaders and faith-based organizations reacted swiftly to the verdicts. People cheer after a guilty verdict was announced at the trial of former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin for the 2020 death of George Floyd, Tuesday, April 20, 2021, in Minneapolis, Minn. Former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin has been convicted of murder and manslaughter in the death of Floyd. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
April 20, 2021
(RNS) As the judge thanked jurors for their “heavy-duty jury service,” reactions had already begun to the three guilty verdicts in the trial of former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd.
It s one step closer to realizing that our lives do matter as well, Williams said. When I say Black Lives Matter, it s not to negate anyone else s life. In fact, it is in support of the statement that all lives matter.
After deliberating for about 10 hours over two days, the jury on Tuesday found Chauvin guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for the killing of George Floyd, who died last year on Memorial Day after Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes. It s hard enough to watch someone who s lived a full life pass on, Williams continued. But when you see someone senselessly lose their life, that s much more difficult to deal with, I don t care what you look like.
La. officials react to Derek Chauvin verdict George Floyd and Derek Chauvin By WAFB Staff | April 20, 2021 at 5:42 PM CDT - Updated April 20 at 7:23 PM
BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - After former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin was convicted Tuesday, April 20, of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd, people started giving their reactions and some of those came from Louisiana officials.
Gov. John Bel Edwards released a statement:
“Today, I am thankful that the criminal justice system dispensed justice to George Floyd’s family and to society.
While today’s verdict will not bring George Floyd back, nor will it erase years of damaging racism and violence, it is a positive step forward that Derek Chauvin was held fully accountable for Floyd’s death.
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Ex-Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin guilty of murder and manslaughter in George Floyd s death
Former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin was convicted Tuesday of murder and manslaughter for pinning George Floyd to the pavement with his knee on the Black manâs neck in a case that triggered worldwide protests, violence and a furious reexamination of racism and policing in the U.S.
Chauvin, 45, was immediately led away with his hands cuffed behind his back and could be sent to prison for decades.
The verdict â guilty as charged on all counts, in a relatively swift, across-the-board victory for Floydâs supporters â set off jubilation mixed with sorrow across the city and around the nation. Hundreds of people poured into the streets of Minneapolis, some running through traffic with banners. Drivers blared their horns in celebration.