Tuesday, April 20, 2021, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and manslaughter.

Today many feel a range of emotions as the long fight for George Floyd’s life ends. On May 25, 2020, George Floyd died after Chauvin suffocated Floyd with his knee. Over the past year, many people started protesting and even sparked the Black Lives Matter movement in response to Floyd’s death.

George Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd, shares how the wait for a conviction verdict felt never-ending but paid off in the end.

“Today, I won’t get that time to sleep because I’m going to stay up, and I’m going to celebrate because this is a day of celebration. I’m happy, man.” Floyd said in a USA Today article. “Justice for George, it means freedom for all; the world has sparked and lit up with a blaze tonight. And it’s a celebration. Business can be taken care of tomorrow, but it’s a celebration today.”

Many other people have spoken up about the trial verdict, including Civil Rights Activist Rev. Jesse Jackson.

“It’s a relief, but the celebration is premature. We still have a lot of work to do. This is a first down, not a touchdown, Jackson said in a USA Today article.”

George Floyd’s close family members, like his nephew Brandon Williams also speak up for Floyd.
“It’s something this country has needed for a long time now,” Williams said in a USA Today article. “We need police reform badly.”

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison speaks on today being a step towards justice.

“I would not call today’s verdict justice, however, because justice implies true restoration. But it is accountability, which is the first step toward justice,” Ellison said in the USA Today article.

Almost a year following Floyd’s death, many are calling this the first step towards justice for the BLM Movement..