Vigil For Adam Toledo, Daunte Wright Planned In Venice

VENICE, CA — Just hours after a Minnesota jury found former police officer Derek Chauvin guilty in the murder of George Floyd, Venice activists are standing up against violence and demanding justice in the police killings of Adam Toledo and Daunte Wright.

The vigil Wednesday night will be from 6:15 to 8 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Venice, 685 Westminster Ave., Venice. It's hosted by community organizations Save Venice, Venice Equity Alliance and 4 Corners 4 Justice.

People are encouraged to "come in a good way," said Save Venice, a news and action-based collective that works to keep Venice as inclusive as it was intended. It's a family event, and people are encouraged to bring flowers, candles and good energy.

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Chauvin is a former Minneapolis police officer who knelt on George Floyd's neck last year. A jury Tuesday 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. A number of Venice businesses were damaged and looted along Abbot Kinney, Main Street and Lincoln Boulevard.

Los Angeles Police Tuesday night was on tactical alert "in an abundance of caution."

"There are no current unlawful assemblies and the department is proactively taking initiative to ensure adequate resources to respond to any situation should the need arise," according to the LAPD. "We remain committed to ensuring the balance of ensuring public safety of all and being respectful to the community. We strive to protect and serve every member of the community equally."

The city of Los Angeles closed all of its COVID-19 vaccination sites in response to the verdict being read. Anyone with appointments at those sites was being urged to return Wednesday. County-run vaccination sites remained open.

RELATED: Photos: Venice Businesses Looted, Damaged During Protests

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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