Justice For George Floyd: Coloradans React To Chauvin Verdict

Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who was seen by people across the world with his knee on George Floyd's neck — an event that inspired mass protests for social justice — was found guilty of murder by a jury Tuesday.

Chauvin, 45, was convicted of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd's death on Memorial Day 2020.

After the verdict was read, Chauvin was immediately taken out of the courtroom in handcuffs as his defense attorney, Eric Nelson, watched. Chauvin's bail was revoked and he was taken into the custody of the Hennepin County sheriff.

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.

Floyd's death sparked nationwide protests demanding racial justice and police reform. Thousands of Coloradans spent weeks protesting in downtown Denver— marching the streets and demanding justice.

"This was the correct verdict," Denver Mayor Michael Hancock said in a tweet. "George Floyd received justice today, our community received justice today & the people received justice today. This trial & this guilty verdict may be just one step toward reconciliation, but it is a powerful moment for the cause of equal justice."

In a statement released before the verdict was reached, Hancock called on faith and community leaders to provide a space, either virtually or in-person for residents to express their thoughts and perspectives after the trial.

“Millions of people, including myself, have watched this trial, and it has been very emotionally charged, difficult, and challenging for all of us," Hancock's statement read. "A very painful moment has been relived, reopening wounds not only in our personal experiences, but also in the very fabric of our society.

"No matter the verdict, our residents will need a space to dialogue about their thoughts and emotions in the wake of George Floyd’s death, this trial and how we can move forward together toward reconciliation as a local community, and as a nation.

“To facilitate that, I am calling on our faith and community leaders and groups to provide that safe space and outlet for our residents who want to participate. After this trial, people will need a release for their emotions, so let’s have those frank conversations, no matter how difficult they may be, and promote our collective healing.”

Colorado's Black Lives Matter 5280 and other local BLM groups also spent months promoting community healing and preparing for the verdict.

"All three counts," BLM 5280 said in a statement posted on social media. "Black people, please continue to engage in your self care. The grief and tension we carried up until this moment and will continue to carry as long as white supremacy exists are too heavy.

"We all sat with bated breath and knotted stomachs anticipating the worst for weeks, months, over a year now. They can never give us those moments, that lack of peace back. They can never give us what and who has been stolen from us back. Please rest. And live to fight another day.

"Black love!"

"George Floyd was murdered. That was clear to all of us who saw the horrific incident via television, social media, or smartphone three hundred and thirty days ago," Sen. James Coleman (CO SD33) said in a statement posted on social media. "For nearly a year his family has grieved, mourned, and wondered if George Floyd would receive justice.

"Three hundred and thirty days later, a jury has concluded that Mr. Floyd was in fact murdered at the hands of one who had taken an oath to serve and protect. Derek Chauvin violated his oath and he became a murderer, pressing his knee on the neck of Mr. Floyd for over nine minutes, even as he pleaded for breath, and called for his mother.

"Today, this jury has decided that murderers can no longer hide behind badges, that they can no longer find safety under the shield, that no one is beyond the reach of justice," Coleman's statement read, in part.

• Denver Protests Against Death Of George Floyd: Photos

“Less than a year ago, the world watched in horror as George Floyd’s life was taken from him," Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement released after the verdict. "In the days and weeks following his tragic murder, millions of Americans took to the streets to make their voices heard, saying enough is enough.

"Today, we see a glimmer of hope, a glimpse of justice, but we know we are nowhere near the end of this road. This verdict does not bring back George Floyd. True justice would mean having him here with us today. Let us acknowledge this victory and use this inflection point to bend the arc of social equality toward lasting justice so this doesn’t happen again.

"My heart goes out to the family of George Floyd, who have been forced to relive this tragedy far too many times, and to the families of countless other Black Americans who have been forced to say goodbye too soon.”

National leaders react

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke with Floyd's family on the phone shortly after the verdict was announced. Earlier in the day, Biden had said he was praying for the "right verdict."

Family attorney Ben Crump took the phone call as an opportunity to express his support for the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act and said he hoped this would be the momentum to get the law passed with Biden's signature.

"You got it, pal," Biden replied.

• President Biden On Chauvin Trial: Praying For 'Right Verdict'

Background On Case

The racially diverse jury deliberated less than a full day before coming to a decision that concluded the two-week trial, which was closely watched as a bellwether of official responses to police killings of Black people.

• Read The Jury Instructions Given In The Derek Chauvin Trial

"On May 25, 2020, George Floyd died faced down on the pavement," state prosecutor Steve Schleicher told jurors in his closing argument Monday. "Nine minutes and 29 seconds. Throughout this time George Floyd struggled to breathe."

"What the defendant did to George Floyd killed him," Schleicher added. "It was ruled a homicide. The defendant is charged with murder."

Schleicher praised the "noble" police profession in his closing statement and noted that "this case is called the state of Minnesota versus Derek Chauvin.

"This is not called the state of Minnesota versus the police."

"This is not an anti-police prosecution. It's a pro-police prosecution."
Chauvin took "pride over policing," said Schleicher. "George Floyd paid for it with his life."

Meanwhile, Chauvin's defense attorney, Eric Nelson, closed Monday by saying Chauvin's actions on Memorial Day were consistent with what a "reasonable police officer" would do.

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The verdict comes less than two weeks after another Black man's fatal interaction with police sparked unrest in the Twin Cities metro.

Former Brooklyn Center police Officer Kim Potter faces charges of second-degree manslaughter in the shooting death of Daunte Wright, 20, in the Minneapolis suburb last week.

Chauvin Did Not Testify

In Chauvin's trial, state prosecutors and Chauvin's defense attorney, Eric Nelson, spent 15 days arguing about Chauvin's culpability in Floyd's death. Chauvin himself declined to testify in his own defense, invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

Floyd's arrest and death — captured on a bystander video — was seen across the globe, sparking outrage and leading to countless protests around the country.

In court, Nelson blamed the "hostile" and "growing crowd" for distracting the four officers who were at the scene of Floyd's arrest. He also told jurors that drugs and heart disease, not Chauvin, killed Floyd.

A "use of force" expert called on by Nelson to testify said Chauvin's actions on the day of Floyd's death were justified.

State prosecutors and their own medical witnesses, however, said Floyd's behavior in his final moments was not consistent with a drug overdose and that his death resulted from Chauvin's restraint, which cut off oxygen to Floyd.

The autopsy report from Dr. Andrew Baker, the Hennepin County medical examiner, found fentanyl and methamphetamine in Floyd's system but listed Floyd's official cause of death as "cardiopulmonary arrest, complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression."

Baker testified that drugs and heart disease played a role in Floyd's death but were not "direct causes."

Chauvin restraint of Floyd was "more than Mr. Floyd could take," Baker told the jury.

Dr. Martin Tobin, a forensic toxicology expert, testified that Floyd died because of a lack of oxygen. "A healthy person subjected to what Mr. Floyd was subjected to would have died as a result of what he was subjected to," Tobin told the court.

Patch editor William Bornhoft contributed to this report.