Finally, justice served, Minneapolis policeman Derek Chauvin was convicted of murdering George Floyd. The 12-member jury found that Chauvin guilty of all the charges including second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter after taking the testimony of 45 witnesses in three weeks.
In the video captured on May 25, 2020, Chauvin is seen pushing his knee into the neck of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man in handcuffs, for about 10 minutes. Chauvin and three of his fellow officers arrested Floyd, who was accused of using a fake $20 bill in a grocery shop to buy cigarettes.
Chauvin who was present in the courtroom was later taken out of the courtroom in handcuffs and placed in the custody of the Hennepin County Sheriff. The crowd gathered outside the courthouse erupted in cheers when the verdict was announced.
Meanwhile, at George Floyd square in Minneapolis where Floyd was killed, people celebrated the verdict by screaming, applauding and some even threw dollar bills in the air. This particular junction has become a rallying point for racial justice protests.
In a statement, Floyd family's attorney Benjamin Crump said, "Justice for Black America is justice for all of America." It further added, "This case is a turning point in American history for accountability of law enforcement and sends a clear message we hope is heard clearly in every city and every state."
