Justice Prevailed in George Floyd’s Murder

Justice Prevailed in George Floyd’s Murder

Guilty Verdict Could Usher in New Era for Police Accountability in America

 Poder Latinx released the following statement regarding the guilty verdict on all counts of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin in his trial for the murder of George Floyd. Floyd was a 46-year-old Minneapolis resident who was killed when in his capacity as a police officer, Chauvin pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck while he was face-down on the ground in handcuffs. Floyd’s death last May was captured by witnesses via video and widely circulated, setting off a series of national and international protests against racial profiling, police brutality and impunity, and systemic racism. Chauvin was charged with second-degree felony murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.

“While nothing can bring George Floyd back to his family, we hope that this decision offers them solace in their grief. Today, justice prevailed with the guilty verdict in the Chauvin trial – and in a rare but hopefully not the only instance, justice was served on behalf of a Black man. This case should set a precedent in what, in the aftermath of the murders of Daunte Wright and Adam Toledo, will sadly not be a last of its kind. This case needs to serve as a wake-up call to our society, for us to rethink what policing is and what it should be,” said Esteban Garces, co-executive director for Poder Latinx. 

“We stand with the family of George Floyd and hope this guilty verdict can bring them some peace and closure. As allies in this movement, we will continue fighting with the Black community for justice and police accountability. This case opened the eyes and minds of many Americans who, in the midst of a pandemic, were confronted with the reality and cruelty of the way police officers treat Black men in the streets of America. It’s time for community-led police reform to be realized,” said Yadira Sanchez, co-executive director for Poder Latinx.
 

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