The nation is reacting after Derek Chauvin was deemed guilty for all three counts for the death of George Floyd. Chauvin, 45, is convicted of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter on April 20.
Following the verdict, Judge Peter Cahill revoked the ex-officers bail. Chauvin, who remanded into the custody of the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and escorted from the courthouse in handcuffs. The jurors deliberated for more than 10 hours over the span of two days before coming to their decision.
Floyd's murder reignited a nationwide movement calling for police reform and an end to the systematic racism that is ongoing in America. Last summer, thousands of people participated in a series of nationwide protests in response to this example of police brutality.
Judge Cahill expects sentencing hearings to begin in two months. According to the New York Times, the recommended sentence for each charge for someone with no criminal history is 12.5 years. However, the maximum sentences for the charges vary. The maximum sentence for second-degree murder is 40 years, while the maximum sentence for third-degree murder is 25 years.
Shortly after the decision went public, a number of celebrities and public figures took to social media to share their thoughts and opinions on the news.
Relieved to hear the guilty verdict, artist Mariah Carey and actress Kerry Washington tweeted about the progress made and work ahead of the country.
Meanwhile, Whoopi Goldberg and Amanda Gorman admit the Derek Chauvin guilty verdict is not true justice. Additionally, stars like Dan Levy, Ciara, Mandy Moore and Chris Evan spoke out about it.
Rev. Jesse Jackson shared a startling fact about the meaning of the guilty verdict. "This is the first time in history in MN that a white police officer has been convicted of killing a black man. This is the beginning of the end of legal lynching. The legal lynching must end. Congrats to the legal team&to Attorney General #KeithEllison. #justiceforgeorgefloyd."
Even some politicians joined in the conversation. Barack and Michelle Obama jointly commemorated the diverse jury for their service to the case. President Biden and Vice President Harris called Floyd’s family and team of lawyers after the verdict was announced.
“We’re all so relieved,” Biden said. “We’re gonna get a lot more done,” he promised. Harris said, “this is a day of justice in America…we are going to make sure [George Floyd’s] legacy is in tact.”
Of course, who could forget some of Drag Society's favorite queens! Both Detox and Ongina shared celebratory tweets regarding the verdict. As a result, this tweet pretty much sums up all of our reactions to the news.