Derek Chauvin Found Guilty of Murder In Death Of George Floyd

On Tuesday, April 20th 2021 former Minneapolis police office Derek Chauvin was found guilty for the murder of innocent American George Floyd. The jury convicted Chauvin on all counts: second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.  

In response to the guilty verdict, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the Justice Department will conduct an investigation into the practices and culture of the Minneapolis Police Department. The Justice Department will be determining whether the Minneapolis police engaged in unconstitutional or unlawful policing. President Biden called Mr. Floyd's family after the verdict and then publicly stated "It's not enough. We can't stop here." from the White House.

Murderer Derek Chauvin is scheduled to be sentenced in 2 months. He is only the second Minnesota police officer to be convicted of murder. Chauvin faces 40 years in prison. His bail has been revoked. 

In addition to Chauvin, three other former Minneapolis police officers that were involved in Mr. Floyd's murder — Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng — are scheduled to face the court in August.

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act has passed in The House of Representatives but in currently stalled in the Senate. The bill prohibits racial profiling throughout law enforcement, bans chokeholds, and creates a national police misconduct registry. 

Vice President Harris, who introduced the legislation last year as a member of the Senate said “this work is long overdue” and that racial injustice is “a problem for every American.”

Darnella Frazier, the teenager who continued filming Chauvin kneeling on Mr. Floyd's neck despite threats from the police, has been commended by the public for her bravery.

In memory of Mr. George Floyd, below are 8 minutes and 46 seconds of New Yorkers advocating that his life mattered.