After Chauvin trial, relief and concern

Philonise Floyd described what it felt like to hear the guilty verdict in the case of his brother’s killing, saying, “We can breathe again.” Across the country, activists and leaders expressed relief at the conviction of ex-officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd last summer in Minneapolis. Floyd’s death during an arrest attempt, which a bystander caught on video, sparked nationwide anti-police and anti-racism riots and protests. President Joe Biden called the verdict a “giant step forward” after he spoke with Floyd’s family on Tuesday. He and other politicians, including Vice President Kamala Harris, said work to reform policing practices must continue.

Does everyone believe justice was served? Pro-police groups gave more somber responses but said they accepted the verdict. “There are no winners in this case and we respect the jury’s decision,” the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis said in a statement. Some conservative politicians said the effusive comments of public officials during the trial could give Chauvin strong grounds to appeal. Judge Peter Cahill said as much on Monday when he rebuked U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., for remarks she made at a rally over the weekend before the jury was sequestered for deliberations. Waters called for protesters to get “more confrontational” if Chauvin was not convicted.

Dig deeper: Read Sophia Lee’s report on protests and riots in Los Angeles following Floyd’s death last summer.