Justice has been served.
Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who kneeled on George Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes last May, was found guilty of murder and manslaughter on Tuesday (April 20).
Chauvin was convicted on all three charges of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. A Minneapolis jury deliberated for over 10 hours across two days before reaching the historic decision.
After the verdict was announced, emotions and cheers erupted outside the Minneapolis courthouse, while everyone from former President Barack Obama to Cardi B took to social media to acknowledge the critical moment in American history.
“History,” tweeted Cardi, while Megan Thee Stallion praised the decision, writing, “JUSTICE.”
Mariah Carey also celebrated the conviction. “Hallelujah!!!!!!!!” she tweeted. “A beginning.. a small grain of hope for our future.”
Meek Mill shared his thoughts on the murder of Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, which sparked one of the largest civil rights protests in decades. “You have to literally get killed on camera to get a chance at justice as a black man in America …..I salute you black king rest in power!!” said the prison reform advocate while sending a message to Chauvin: “Let’s see if you can kill a black man with your knee in prison chump!!!!”
But the fight for justice is not over. “We still have to fight for justice yall,” tweeted Questlove. “I’m happy for the Floyd family tho. Especially his daughter. But there is still a slew of mountain to climb.”
Justin Timberlake also acknowledged the ongoing fight for justice. “This verdict is just the first step in a long line of injustice against the Black community, often with no consequences,” he tweeted along with the hashtag #PoliceReformNOW. “The work is not nearly done. While there are many more families waiting for justice, my heart is with George Floyd’s family right now.”
See more reactions below.
Today, a jury did the right thing. But true justice requires much more. Michelle and I send our prayers to the Floyd family, and we stand with all those who are committed to guaranteeing every American the full measure of justice that George and so many others have been denied. pic.twitter.com/mihZQHqACV
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 20, 2021
A beginning.. a small grain of hope for our future.
— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) April 20, 2021
We still have to fight for justice yall. Remember that “we voted Obama in yay racism is gone!” feeling? Yeah…let’s learn from that. I’m happy for the Floyd family tho. Especially his daughter. But there is still a slew of mountain to climb.
— B.R.O.theR. ?uestion (@questlove) April 20, 2021
This verdict is just the first step in a long line of injustice against the Black community, often with no consequences. The work is not nearly done. While there are many more families waiting for justice, my heart is with George Floyd’s family right now. #PoliceReformNOW @NAACP
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) April 20, 2021