SMMUSD Superintendent Responds To Chauvin's Guilty Verdict

SANTA MONICA, CA — Santa Monica leaders, including SMMUSD Superintendent Dr. Ben Drati, are speaking out and urging the public to remain peaceful following the guilty verdict reached Tuesday in the trial of Derek Chauvin.

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"After a year of living through the George Floyd killing at the hands of police officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis, the jury has just announced guilty verdicts on all three counts of the trial," Superintendent Dr. Ben Drati said Tuesday.

"This is a very emotional event that will reverberate around the country and world," Drati said. "The journey we have gone through with the killing, the world’s reaction, and trial, is something we will hold close to our hearts and minds for decades to come. I hope this creates awareness and much-needed resolve in addressing racism."

The district remains committed to anti-racism and offers parents and staff resources and information on how to engage in meaningful conversations around the complex and emotional conversation, he added.

"Our staff stands by to lead discussions and consult students who may have questions," Drati said. "We also have counseling available to support students and staff who may need the emotional support."

"Please be safe and continue to look out for each other," he added.

The Santa Monica Police Department has activated its pre-planned response by increasing the number of police officers patrolling the city, officials announced Tuesday.

"Your police department is steadfastly committed to you and your safety and accordingly, we remain in contact with our regional partners and have activated our pre-planned tiered response," Santa Monica Police Department officials said in a statement released on Twitter. "You will continue to see a strong presence of uniformed police personnel throughout the city. We urge our community to remain calm and peaceful. It is imperative that our community remain vigilant at all times."

Police urged the public to stay vigilant and report suspicious activity.

"If you see something, say something by calling our dispatch center at 310-458-8491 or 9-1-1 in the event of a life-threatening an emergency," police said.

Chauvin is a former Minneapolis police officer who knelt on George Floyd's neck last year. A jury found that Chauvin was guilty on all counts.

After two weeks of jury selection in the trial, 12 jurors were selected out of more than 300. The jurors were tasked with deliberating on one of the most controversial cases in modern history.

Chauvin was convicted Tuesday with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Law enforcement agencies all over California were preparing for potential unrest as the nation anxiously awaited the verdict of the trial. Last summer, a groundswell of activism swept the nation and the Golden State after Floyd's death on May 31. In Santa Monica, at least 200 businesses were damaged during a chaotic afternoon and night of looting stores and fires that badly destroyed some businesses in the downtown area.

The verdict — which was reached in about 10 hours — was read Tuesday afternoon. Chauvin's sentencing hearing will take place in eight weeks.

Chauvin faces a max of 75 years in prison under Minnesota law.

After it was announced that a verdict had been reached, demonstrators quickly congregated outside of the Hennepin County courthouse — where the trial took place — and at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis, where Floyd spent his last moments.

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