On April 20, Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, was convicted on all charges brought against him in the death of George Floyd.
Charges include second-degree murder, which declares that Chauvin unintentionally caused Floyd’s death while committing or attempting to commit third-degree assault; third-degree murder, which states that Chauvin caused Floyd’s death by “perpetrating an act eminently dangerous to others and evincing a depraved mind, without regard for human life”; and second-degree manslaughter, which states that Chauvin caused Floyd’s death by “culpable negligence whereby the person creates an unreasonable risk, and consciously takes chances of causing death or great bodily harm.”
The charges come in response to an incident from last May in which Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes after a store clerk called police to report that Floyd had paid for a pack of cigarettes with a fake $20 bill. In a video recorded by bystander Darnella Frazier, Floyd can be heard pleading for his life, stating that he ‘can’t breathe’. The video kindled months of protests around the world as people demanded justice for Floyd’s murder.
The verdict followed a grueling three-week trial that included testimony from numerous witnesses and long displays of video footage of the incident. The prosecution argued that, in restraining Floyd, Chauvin exhibited an unreasonable and excessive amount of force, which caused Floyd to die of low oxygen levels that resulted in a brain injury and arrhythmia, prompting his heart to stop. Minneapolis PD Chief Medaria Arradondo and other members of the department testified that Chauvin’s long-lasting restraint of Floyd was excessive and violated the department’s policies.
Throughout the trial, defense attorney Eric Nelson argued that Chauvin had merely followed the guidelines of his training, also proposing the possibility that Floyd’s heart condition and drug-use had influenced his death. Nelson also attempted to contend that “angry” bystanders had impacted Chauvin’s ability to think clearly and act in a rightful manner.
The trial featured multiple emotional accounts from bystanders providing testimonies, many saddened by the tragic memories of witnessing Floyd’s murder and being unable to prevent it.
The jury deliberated for just 10.5 hours following the trial’s closing arguments. Crowds gathered outside the Minneapolis courthouse roared in celebration after hearing the verdict, many shedding tears of both joy and sorrow.
The verdict also comes amidst the recent police killings of Daunte Wright in Minneapolis and Adam Toledo in Chicago. For many, relief was cut short as news about the Columbus police killing of Ma’Khia Bryant emerged mere hours later.
The verdict has sparked contestation over the meaning of justice in the U.S. In response to Chauvin’s conviction, many have expressed relief that some form of accountability has been achieved in the virtually salient realm of police brutality. However, some assert that Chauvin’s conviction does not necessarily signal justice for George Floyd, arguing that the American justice system is inherently unjust and inequitable and that it must ultimately be abolished.
When speaking of the conviction, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made controversial remarks regarding Floyd’s murder, leading many to denounce her for speaking of Floyd’s death as a “sacrifice.”
“Thank you, George Floyd, for sacrificing your life for justice. For being there to call out to your mom, ‘I can’t breathe’,” Pelosi stated. She further commented that Floyd’s name “will always be synonymous with justice.”
Many immediately criticized her statement for implying that Floyd’s suffering was a necessary step in the movement towards justice; “God forbid I am ever taken from this earth by a white supremacist or system of white supremacy,” author and activist Frederick Joseph wrote on Twitter, “please don’t let the people like Nancy Pelosi say ‘I sacrificed my life’.” Numerous people continue to condemn Pelosi for employing martyrdom-like language when speaking of Floyd’s murder.
Conversely, people have expressed deep gratitude for Darnella Frazier, the then-17-year-old who recorded the incident and greatly contributed to Chauvin’s ultimate conviction. “Thinking of Darnella Frazier who filmed the death of George Floyd at 17 and quite literally changed the world,” tweeted White House Correspondent, Yamiche Alcindor. “She testified there are nights she stays up ‘apologizing & apologizing to George Floyd for not doing more.’ But, she did so, so much to get to this murder conviction.”
Chauvin will have his sentencing hearing in 8 weeks and faces up to 40 years in prison, though Minnesota sentencing guidelines suggest he is more likely to get 12.5 years since he lacks a criminal history. Prosecutors are, however, authorized to ask for the full 40-year sentence. They requested that Judge Peter Cahill consider factors such as the murder occurring in front of a child when sentencing.
The 3 other officers involved in the incident are also facing charges and are expected to jointly undergo a trial in August. Tou Thao, Thomas Lane, and J. Alexander Kueng are charged with aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.
