Dodging the Bullet…This Time: Reactions to Chauvin Verdict

There is a great, collective sigh of relief in response to the three guilty verdicts rendered Tuesday in the trial of Derek Chauvin, who was a member of the Minneapolis Police Department when he murdered a black man named George Floyd in May 2020. As has been said by many others, “This was not justice, but it was the first step towards accountability.”  

This has been echoed by many of the leaders in the black communities across this nation and more importantly by the family of George Floyd, which acknowledges the singular exception of this verdict as opposed to police killings of unarmed people of color in hundreds of other cases. That the Los Angeles Police Department did not overreact to the solidarity demonstrations here in L.A. and instead deescalated potential confrontations shows that the police are capable of  different outcomes.  So our city dodged the bullet of a reactive response…this time. But the question remains: does this usher in a new era of community-based policing or was this just a pause in the decades-long conflict?

Below are some of reactions to this historic verdict, which has captured the attention of our city and nation and offers hope that we as one nation may finally address what historically has been called our original sin — slavery, and by extension, racism. 

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Chauvin Trial Verdict 

“The hard truth is that, if George Floyd looked like me, he’d still be alive today. No conviction can repair the harm done to George Floyd and his family, but today’s verdict provides some accountability as we work to root out the racial injustice that haunts our society. We must continue the work of fighting systemic racism and excessive use of force. It’s why I signed some of the nation’s most progressive police reform legislation into law. I will continue working with community leaders across the state to hear concerns and support peaceful expression.”

Rep. Nanette Barragán Statement on Guilty Verdict in Chauvin Trial

“Nothing could undo the injustice of a sworn police officer killing George Floyd. All too often our justice system fails people and communities of color – in particular, Black men – but today our system delivered justice for George Floyd. Derek Chauvin is being held accountable for murder.

We all saw the horrific video of Derek Chauvin holding his knee against George Floyd’s throat for 9 minutes and 29 seconds while he could no longer breathe. We all saw George Floyd plead for his life and cry out for his mother. The evidence was clear. There was no justification for kneeling on George Floyd until he died. His life mattered. 

Let’s hope today’s verdict is a turning point in holding police accountable. Still, more needs to be done to prevent future tragic incidents of unnecessary police violence. Far too many people of color have met the same fate as George Floyd. It needs to end.

The time for change is now. I proudly joined the Congressional Black Caucus and my colleagues to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in March and now the Senate must act. We need to deliver the critical reforms needed to address systemic racism and police misconduct while increasing transparency.”

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA 28th District)

No jury’s decision can bring back George Floyd, or undo the pain felt by his family, his friends and his community. But the verdict today is a measure of accountability, and true justice will take time. 

Just as we come to grips with one tragedy and verdict, we must grapple with new cases of police violence, including the deaths of 13-year-old Adam Toledo in Chicago and 20 year old Daunte Wright in Minnesota, just miles from where George Floyd was murdered.True justice will take time and lots of work. Today, all of our thoughts are with George Floyd’s friends and family. And tomorrow, the work continues. 

Councilman Joe Buscaino for Council District 15 and Mayoral Candidate 2022

Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd in the light of day, with a maliciousness caught on tape far too many times in our history. In taking the life of one of the people he was sworn to protect, Chauvin disrespected the solemnity of his duty in the worst possible way.  

I am so glad that the jury said that Black Lives Matter, but this is just one day, on a very long journey to the reckoning that we must face and the healing that we need.

Bryant Odega, Candidate for LA City Council District 15 

Dereck Chauvin murdered George Floyd and the guilty verdict today is a triumph for accountability. However, real justice would mean that George Floyd was never murdered in the first place. The justice we need in the United States and right here in the City of Los Angeles is the end of systemic racism. It is the systemic racism that fuels the resurgence of the LAPD’s racist and ineffective pretextual stops, also known as “stop-and-frisk,” in South LA and neighboring communities. It was that same type of pretextual stop that led to the death of Daunte Wright last week, killed by the same Minneapolis police department that killed George Floyd. 

Black and Brown people are targeted simply for the color of our skin. There are many more George Floyds, Daunte Wrights, Breonna Taylors, Adam Toledos, and Andres Guardados in this city and across the country that we don’t hear about in the news or social media. They will no longer be able to celebrate their birthdays or hug their loved ones again. There will be no justice until we reimagine public safety, reinvest in our communities, and hold police officers accountable for their misconduct so that we can stop losing loved ones to the hands of the police.

Tim McOsker, Candidate for LA City Council District 15 

The unanimous guilty verdicts were overwhelmingly supported by the evidence and are a step toward justice.  While no conviction will restore the life of George Floyd or bring peace to his family and loved ones, I hope and pray that this tragedy causes us to reassess and improve public safety in every community across the country.

Shannon Ross, Candidate for LA City Council District 15

Derek Chauvin was rightly held accountable today and, for that, I am glad. While today’s guilty verdict won’t return George Floyd to his loved ones, it can serve as a starting point for where we need to go from here. I am acutely aware that without Darnella Frazier, who at 17 years old had the courage to film George Floyd’s murder, today’s verdict may have been different. The fight to achieve racial justice and equity must continue. Black Lives Matter. 

Dr. Cheyenne Bryant,  president of the San Pedro NAACP

The conviction of Chauvin on all three charges shows accountability. But, are we supposed to say “thank you” although, it is not justice and definitely doesn’t make up for the senseless murder of George Floyd? Nor does it erase racism within law enforcement. We cannot ignore the trauma that the Black community and every human being with a heart has experienced. The leftover residue from the ongoing systemic racism won’t end with one convicted officer. Justice is never having to experience such a heartless cold reality and bringing back the lives of the “too many” Black people who have been murdered as a result of racism and hate. Unfortunately, that isn’t an option. So, we continue the fight. This is a human right fight! We call on all human beings who believe it is a right to enjoy public safety from law enforcers who we should look to for protection and not dehumanization to join us on this journey.