More Work To Be Done After Chauvin Verdict: Moorestown Officials

MOORESTOWN, NJ - Moorestown Councilman Quinton Law said he is committed to continuing to see all residents protected in after former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murdering George Floyd.

“I was relieved to see that our legal system delivered a verdict that was the right decision,” Law said in an email to Patch. “However, a guilty verdict does not bring George Floyd back, he was denied justice and should be alive today. True justice provides equal protection under the law for all citizens. I am praying for the Floyd family, and I hope they are given the time and space to heal.”

Law was sworn in as Moorestown’s first Black council member in January after he was appointed by the other members to fill a vacant seat. Read more here: Moorestown's First Black Council Member Sworn In By Cory Booker

He came into the public spotlight as a member of the Moorestown Alumni for Racial Equity & Inclusion (MAREI) group, which has been working with the Moorestown Public School District to expand race education in the district.

As a council member, he and Deputy Mayor Sue Mammarella put together the Moorestown Equity, Inclusion and Diversity (MEID) task force that is aimed at raising awareness about racial issues throughout the township. Read more here: Moorestown’s Diversity Task Force Promoting Inclusion, Awareness

“In Moorestown, I commit to continue working with our community to maintain a system of public safety that protects and serves all residents,” Law said.

Moorestown Mayor Nicole Gillespie is a member of Burlington County's Minority and Equality Rights Task Force, which was formally created last summer in the wake of national protests following Floyd’s death. Read more here: Moorestown Mayor Named To County Civil Rights Task Force

“I am profoundly relieved at this verdict,” Gillespie said. “I think this is appropriate accountability, but this is just the beginning. I hesitate to say this is justice for George Floyd because we still have a lot of work to do in this country.”

In the wake of Floyd's death, Black Lives Matter rallies and protests took place across the country, including a peaceful protest that drew a diverse crowd of hundreds to Moorestown in June. Read more here: Peaceful Protest In Moorestown Honors George Floyd

Chauvin, 45, was convicted of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd's death. Read more here: Jury Finds Derek Chauvin Guilty On All Counts In Death Of Floyd

See related: Burlington County NAACP Head Still Nervous After Chauvin Verdict