White policeman who killed African American George Floyd convicted

Former policeman Derek Chauvin could face up to 70 years in prison.

A jury has found former police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of the murder of George Floyd in Minnesota last year, a case of police brutality and racism that rocked millions in the United States and around the world, and sparked a wave of protests and counter-demonstrations that resulted in one of the worst escalations of political violence in years.

Chauvin was convicted of the charges of second degree murder, third degree murder or manslaughter. Between the three charges is added a possible maximum prison sentence of 70 yearsCNN news channel reported.

Known the ruling, President JoeBiden said the country is “a time of significant change”and contacted Floyd’s family.

After reading the verdict, the prosecutor requested revocation of the bond granted to Chauvin and Judge Peter Cahill agreed, so the former policeman was transferred to a handcuffed cell to await the reading of his sentence, which, according to the magistrate, will be announced in eight weeks.

In the United States and around the world, the unacceptable act of police violence has been repudiated.

While the jury decides whether the accused is guilty or innocent, in the American system, sentencing, that is, the definition of the term of imprisonment or some other form of punishment, is the prerogative of the judge.

Minutes before the jury’s final decision was known, United States President Joe Biden called the evidence against Chauvin “overwhelming” and called for a “correct” verdict in Minnesota.

While awaiting this decision, politicians, civic leaders, activists and Floyd’s family and friends celebrated what they believed was the result of a year of mobilization.

“Hard-won justice has been served to the family and community of George Floyd here in Minneapolis, but today’s verdict goes beyond that city and has a significant impact across the country and even in the The black United States is justice for the whole of the United States, ”the victim’s family and lawyer Ben Crump said in a public statement.

The country’s black community reacted in unison.

Images of families, friends, and even the underbench of black lawmakers in Washington’s Federal Congress glued to television after the verdict was read and moved to tears upon hearing it have gone viral on social media.

But the main institutions and civil organizations of this community made it clear that today is only a grain of sand.

“Let’s be clear: this does not bring back our loved ones. It does not bring back George Floyd. His daughter and family will grow up without him,” the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation said in a statement.

The NAACP, the country’s oldest black rights organization, was even more powerful.

“The fight against police impunity and for respect for the lives of blacks is far from over,” the historic organization said in another statement.

Similarly, Amnesty International used the verdict to reiterate its call for comprehensive police reform in all states of the country.

the murderer

On May 25 of last year, Floyd was arrested in the city of Minneapolis after a store owner accused him of paying with a bogus bill for $ 20.

The police responded to the owner’s call and immediately reduced him to the second floor.

With several cops nearby, Chauvin, 45, knelt at Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes and, despite calls from the man, stayed there until the beefy 46-year-old stopped breathe.

Her death was filmed by someone who was there and immediately went viral.

The images and sound of Floyd’s pleading sparked a wave of protests at home and even abroad, which quickly became a mainstay of last year’s presidential campaign and one of the issues. most widely used by the president. polarization and escalation of violence in the country.

Biden said the United States faces “the opportunity to begin to change course,” assessed that “this could be a time of significant change” and urged the Senate to vote on the reform bill. judicial already approved by the House of Representatives so that l can sign it immediately.

A White House statement also noted that Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris “saw the verdict with the staff in the private dining room” and that the president later “spoke with Governor Tim Walz” .

He added the text that Biden, Harris and the first lady later discussed with Philonise Floyd. “We are all so relieved. You are a wonderful family. I would have loved to be there to give you a hug,” Biden said in this talk.

For this reason, for former President Barack Obama – the country’s first black president – Tuesday’s verdict is important, but not enough.

“True justice demands that we recognize that black Americans are treated differently, every day. It demands that we recognize that millions of our friends, family and fellow citizens live in fear that their own meeting with members of the security forces will be the last, ”he said in a statement.