Protesters in Minneapolis cheered Tuesday after a jury convicted former police officer Derek Chauvin of all three counts in the death of George Floyd, whose killing last year re-ignited a nationwide movement calling for police reform and racial justice. An attorney for Floyd’s family called the verdict “painfully earned justice.”
The jury, which consisted of six White people, four Black people and two multiracial people, convicted Chauvin of unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Floyd’s family, applauded the decision.
“Painfully earned justice has arrived for George Floyd’s family and the community here in Minneapolis, but today’s verdict goes far beyond this city and has significant implications for the country and even the world,” Crump said. “This case is a turning point in American history for accountability of law enforcement and sends a clear message we hope is heard clearly in every city and every state.”
Across the country, cities braced for protests ahead of the verdict. National Guard troops have been deployed to major cities, including Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Chicago, and more.
In Minneapolis, the courthouse where the trial was held had been fortified with fences, plywood, and additional security forces. Last year, protests following Floyd’s death caused $350 million in property damages.
