With as many failures as we’ve seen in the United States justice system over the years, we have to say — we were NOT expecting this… and we are so pleasantly surprised!
The trial of Derek Chauvin, whom the entire world saw kneel on the neck of George Floyd until he died, is over — and shockingly the former police officer has been found GUILTY on all counts!
After an edge-of-seat, at times infuriating, trial and powerful closing arguments, the jury found the Minneapolis cop guilty of second-degree murder, guilty of third-degree murder, and guilty of second-degree manslaughter. Not only that, his bail has been revoked and he was remanded into custody to be sentenced in eight weeks time. Again, for murder. Wow, just… jaws on the floor over here.
Video: The Terrifying Arrest Caught On Leaked Bodycam Footage
Not that we wouldn’t have come to the same conclusion with the evidence presented — we mean, obviously — but the history of this country is one of white police getting away with a slap on the wrist at most for the murder of Black men and women. So to see this happen so decisively, for a jury to come down on the right side of history is just… righteous.
Obviously we weren’t the only ones who thought so. See some of the relief, disbelief, and other poignant reactions from celebs (below)!
Sherri Shepherd said:
“I was on pins and needles waiting on the verdict of Derek Chauvin to come in. To hear these jurors find him GUILTY on a three charges, I can exhale for now! Justice, this time, has been served. But there is so much work that remains to be done!”
I was on pins and needles waiting on the verdict of Derek Chauvin to come in. To hear these jurors find him GUILTY on a three charges, I can exhale for now!
Justice, this time, has been served. But there is so much work that remains to be done!#DerekChauvinTrial #Guilty
— Sherri Shepherd (@sherrieshepherd) April 20, 2021
Mariah Carey at first had just one word to say:
“Hallelujah!!!!!!!!”
Hallelujah!!!!!!!!
— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) April 20, 2021
But then she added:
A beginning.. a small grain of hope for our future.
— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) April 20, 2021
Viola Davis posted:
GUILTY!!!! As it should be!! Now….Rest In Peace George Floyd. Rest. You and your family have been vindicated. ???????? #SayHisName
????@4NIKKOLAS pic.twitter.com/DgVFG7UVPF— Viola Davis (@violadavis) April 20, 2021
Whoopi Goldberg wrote:
“Guilty Guilty Guilty… No one wins.. George Floyd is still gone..and finally someone was responsible… Derek Chauvin”
Guilty Guilty Guilty… No one wins.. George Floyd is still gone..and finally someone was responsible… Derek Chauvin
— Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) April 20, 2021
Ava DuVernay tweeted simply:
3! ????????
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) April 20, 2021
Jada Pinkett Smith posted:
Come thru Justice!
????: Shirien Creates pic.twitter.com/kUW29RXcU7
— Jada Pinkett Smith (@jadapsmith) April 20, 2021
Kerry Washington was more reserved, writing:
“A guilty #verdict. But this fight for justice is not over. We have a lot of work to do. There is more fight ahead of us. But RIGHT NOW please take CARE of yourself. And let’s take care of each other. Prayers and love to the family of #GeorgeFloyd.”
#GeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/OWTgjfVTno
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) April 20, 2021
Amanda Gorman, the poet who delivered those beautiful words at Joe Biden‘s inauguration, wrote:
“A reminder that victory would be George Floyd being alive. Every day Black Americans worry if they will be next is another day without justice.”
A reminder that victory would be George Floyd being alive. Every day Black Americans worry if they will be next is another day without justice.
— Amanda Gorman (@TheAmandaGorman) April 20, 2021
President Barack Obama posted an entire statement, beginning with a very measured response:
“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.”
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
LeVar Burton wrote:
Not in the entire history of Black people in America has a white police officer been convicted of the murder of a Black person. Not in 400 years!
— LeVar Burton (@levarburton) April 20, 2021
He added:
“On this historic day, George Floyd and his family are the beneficiaries of what Black people have referred to for generations, as ‘White people’s justice.’”
Sterling K. Brown went wild with the hashtags, posting:
#Justice #Tears #Relief #GOTOJAIL #GODIRECTLYTOJAIL #DONOTPASSGO #DONOTCOLLECT200DOLLARS ????
— Sterling K Brown (@SterlingKBrown) April 20, 2021
Mia Farrow reminded everyone of what kept Chauvin from getting away, writing:
“Gratitude to the young girl, a child who video taped the entire nine minutes and 29 seconds it took to kill George Floyd”
Gratitude to the young girl, a child who video taped the entire nine minutes and 29 seconds it took to kill George Floyd pic.twitter.com/1i1cakxYrt
— Mia Farrow (@MiaFarrow) April 20, 2021
Kerry Washington agreed, posting:
Darnella Frazier is a hero. Her bravery in that moment must never be forgotten. We lift you up Darnella.
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) April 20, 2021
And Holly Robinson Peete posted:
This justice doesn’t come without that brave young woman who was threatened and harassed and even in some cases mocked for taking that video. Her testimony broke my heart. #Guilty https://t.co/x9NafNE1k7
— Holly Robinson Peete???????? (@hollyrpeete) April 20, 2021
Cher, who got into a spot of hot water tweeting about wishing she could have turned back time because she thought she could have saved Floyd’s life, posted:
THANK GOD????????????????????????
OH HAPPY DAY— Cher (@cher) April 20, 2021
Debra Messing said:
“GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS. As everyone saw with their eyes.
Now we need to CHANGE THE SYSTEM so it doesn’t require a man being murdered on camera and a year’s worth of protests, to hold police accountable for criminal policing.”
GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS. As everyone saw with their eyes.
Now we need to CHANGE THE SYSTEM so it doesn't require a man being murdered on camera and a year's worth of protests, to hold police accountable for criminal policing.#ChauvinIsGuilty
— Debra Messing???? (@DebraMessing) April 20, 2021
Katy Perry returned to the social media she finds so repulsive to share:
rest in JUSTICE George Floyd
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) April 20, 2021
Mark Ruffalo posted:
“We must understand that justice is a practice, not an end.” – Eddie S. Glaude Jr. (@esglaude)
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) April 20, 2021
Mandy Moore wrote:
Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Thank god. Thank you to the jurors for doing their job and helping to enact some semblance of justice in this case. Praying for George Floyd and his loved ones. #BlackLivesMatter
— Mandy Moore (@TheMandyMoore) April 20, 2021
Sharon Stone posted:
THANK YOU FOR JUSTICE. IT MATTERS
TO ME
TO US
TO THOSE OF US WITH CONSCIOUS
???????????????????????????????????????????? #GeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/e3bJus84Rn— Sharon Stone (@sharonstone) April 20, 2021
Patricia Arquette wrote:
“Thank you God! Thank you jurors. Thank you witnesses for the prosecution. Love to the Floyd family.”
Thank you God! Thank you jurors. Thank you witnesses for the prosecution. Love to the Floyd family.
— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) April 20, 2021
La La Anthony posted:
Lizzo posted:
Not everyone was convinced this was justice. “ROT IN HELL” began to trend almost immediately. And some, like LL Cool J, remained skeptical just a guilty verdict would be enough, writing:
“Sentencing is the real litmus test.”
Sentencing is the real litmus test.
— LLCOOLJ (@llcoolj) April 20, 2021
See more reactions (below):
My heart goes out, still, to George Floyd’s family. This verdict matters, but they continue to mourn a grave loss. Love and comfort to his daughter, Gianna.
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) April 20, 2021
I’m not happy.
I’m relieved.
But I’m gonna take that today.Breathe, Fam. Breathe.
— DB Woodside (@dbwofficial) April 20, 2021
This verdict is justice served—but it is not justice for George Floyd. True justice would be a country where George Floyd would still be alive today. True justice demands action—it demands change & that we do everything we can to stop this from happening again & again & again.
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) April 20, 2021
Seriously, read it again knowing what we know: pic.twitter.com/XqPWCpoxeQ
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) April 20, 2021
GUILTY
What a relief. Justice for #GeorgeFloyd
— Elijah Wood (@elijahwood) April 20, 2021
????
— Darren Criss (@DarrenCriss) April 20, 2021
Justice. Rest in power, George Floyd. #BlackLivesMatter
— Mayim Bialik (@missmayim) April 20, 2021
I agree 100% https://t.co/IKh7FIWddx
— Bebe Rexha (@BebeRexha) April 20, 2021
He was always guilty. He was always a murderer. The difference today is that the murderer will be held accountable for his brutal, brazen crimes.
That this is incredibly rare is an indictment of our country.
— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) April 20, 2021
“We must understand that justice is a practice, not an end.” – Eddie S. Glaude Jr. (@esglaude)
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) April 20, 2021
[Image via Joseph Marzullo/WENN/Instar/Avalon.]
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