On April 20th, 2021 the jury in the trial of former officer Derek Chauvin for the nurder of George Floyd declared the defendant guilty on three counts: second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. Following the announcement of the verdict, Senator John Marty (DFL- Roseville) released the following statement:
“The Chauvin trial verdict was a huge relief. It held a police officer accountable for the murder of George Floyd. But it is not justice. Justice is a society where nobody accused of passing a counterfeit bill or stopped for expired license tabs is killed by police. Ever. In a just society, George Floyd and Daunte Wright would still be alive. In a just society, Black Minnesotans would not need to fear for their lives when they encounter police.
We have so much work to do, and the next step in the Legislature is adopting new laws to transform the way we provide public safety in Minnesota. And that must be only the beginning, as we also must address our state’s enormous racial and economic disparities – between Black and white Minnesotans, between Minnesota Native people and those of us who migrated here in the last 200 years. Justice is a community where everybody – without exception – has the resources to meet the needs of their family, the ability to live with dignity, and a feeling of safety in their community.
The Chauvin conviction does not bring justice, but it is an opportunity for us to renew our commitment to move forward together to bring true justice to the community.”
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