New Hampshire Leaders Praise Derek Chauvin Guilty Verdicts

CONCORD, NH — Leaders on both sides of the police aisle in New Hampshire are praising the verdicts against former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd, 46, from May 2020.

Chauvin, 45, was convicted on Tuesday of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter after choking Floyd while placing a knee on his neck during an arrest after police were sent to investigate an incident and Floyd resisted arrest. The officer faces 75 years in prison. Three more police officers, J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao, will be tried in late August.

The video footage sparked condemnation and protests across the country and, in some cities, violent rioting and looting, which led to an estimated $1 to $2 billion in damages and dozens of people killed, according to news reports. It also led to a broader discussion about race relations in America and how law enforcement officers perform their jobs.

Gov. Chris Sununu, a Republican who spearheaded a review of police procedures in the state after Floyd's death, said he supported the charges against Chauvin at the time and was glad to see that justice prevailed.

"George Floyd should be alive today, and while he will sadly never be able to return to his friends and family, we can appreciate that justice through our legal system has been delivered," he said. "I join the people of New Hampshire in praying for George Floyd and his family and hope we can heal as a nation."

Senate Minority Leader Donna Soucy (D-Manchester) agreed with Sununu, noting that nothing could bring Floyd back. But the verdict was a step forward, she said.

"Today, justice prevailed," Soucy said. "Tonight, tomorrow, and in the days and years to come we must continue to work towards that vision of a just system for every single American."

Nashua Democrat state Rep. Linda Harriott-Gathright thanked the jurors "for their steadfastness and determination to see it through to the end" and called for action reducing the inequities in the New Hampshire criminal justice system "that disproportionally target, imprison, and kill people of color," while NH Young Democrats called for "systemic changes to law enforcement" in the wake of the verdict.

State Sen. Becky Whitley (D-Hopkinton), who represents Concord and other communities, agreed the verdict was a step forward, noting on Twitter there was "much work to do" and Floyd's legacy would require "working to address systemic racism in the Granite State and rebuild our state in a more just and equitable way."

Got a news tip? Send it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella's YouTube.com channel or Rumble.com channel.