Are you cautious . Who is with you . Whats the mood . Where are you . And he said philonise and i are in the courthouse. He said the family has faith that Derek Chauvin will be found criminally liable for killing george floyd, and, again, thats from ben crump, the family attorney, and as has been reported earlier, philonise george, the brother of george floyd will be in the courtroom when the verdict is ruled and hes there now with the family attorney and the family attorney, i would imagine together, and they are cautiously optimistic considering the time that it took the jury to deliberate, wolf, and come up with a verdict that its going to be at least in their favor, not exactly sure how they are going to rule on all the charges but there you go, thats the latest from the family and the attorney, wolf blitzer. Well be checking back with them all the time. Sara sidner, just managed to reconnect with you. First of all, tell us where you are and tell us what youre seeing. Reporter all right. Were right across the street from the Hennepin County Government Center where the court is. We know that George Floyds brother, Philonise Floyd, is inside of the court. We know that we have our reporter inside unfortunate court as well, josh campbell. He is there to listen to the jury read the verdict. We are awaiting. We know that Derek Chauvin is inside the court as well. Chauvin went in about eight minutes past 3 00 local time so 4 08 your time, so everyone is waiting for the jury to come in, and everyone is waiting to hear from the foreperson as to what their decision is. Ill give you an idea of where were standing. If you look to my right, there is a train and the edge of where everything is blocked off around the courthouse. If you look at the little gate thats there. Thats where a lot of folks have been going, brought in and out of the court in cars, and then if you look to my left youll see a a Little Grassy knoll there and beyond that theres dozens of people who have gathered, some whom new george floyd well and who are here to speak their peace. We do know that the family will be speaking within an hour after the verdict is ruled. We also know that we heard from Philonise Floyd just before he went into court. He said he was pacing, that he has been patient, but hes pacing right before he went in. He said, look, i am hoping that this verdict helps me finally get some sleep because since may 25th, 2020 he hasnt really been able to sleep well at night. Thats been extremely difficult for this family. Its been extremely difficult for this community. Whether youre a resident here, a business opener here, theres been a lot of emotional folks around, and those emotions are at their height at this moment. There are folks already in tears and folks wores about what this jury will do and you have another case a couple of miles from here where another unarmed black man was shot and killed by police in Brooklyn Center so the begin apgs of that makes for a very, very tense scene. The media, of course, is here from around the world. This building is the star tribune here which is the newspaper here, and its boarded up as well as well as almost every single other building downtown here, and and around other parts of the city as well, including near George Floyd Square where dozens of people have already gathered there, too. Wolf . Well stay in close touch with you. I want to bring in omar jimenez. Hes also on the scene for us. Omar, tell us where you are and what youre seeing. Reporter right now, wolf, we are at George Floyd Square. This is ground zero for where George Floyds final moment of his life. Hold on. Omar. This is the the judge, the pen pin county judge pete cahill. All rights for the jury. Please be seated. Members of the jury, i understand you have a verdict. Members of the jury, i will now read the verdicts as they will appear on the permanent records of the fourth judicial district. State of minnesota, county of hennepin, district court, fourth judicial district, state of minnesota playoff versus Derek Michael church defendant. Verdict count one. The court file 27 cr2012646. We, the jury in the above entitled manner as to count one unintentional seconddegree murder while committing a felony find the defendant guilty. This verdict agreed to this 20th day of april, 20201 at 1 44 p. M. Signed juror foreperson, juror number 19. Same caption verdict count two. We the jury in the above entitled matter argues to count two, thirddegree murder find the defendant guilty. This verdict agreed to this 20th day of april, 2021 at 1 45 p. M. Signed by the jury foreperson, juror number 19. Same caption, verdict count three. We the jury in the above entitled manner as to count three, seconddegree manslaughter, culpable negligence creating an unreasonable risk find the defendant guilty. This verdict agreed to this 20th day of april, 1 45 p. M. , members of the jury, im now going to can you individually if these are your true and correct verdicts. Your number two, are these your correct verdict . Yes. Jim number fine . Yes. Your number 19, are these your true and correct verdicts . Yes. Your number 27, are these your true and correct verdicts . Yes. Juror number 44, are these your true and correct verdicts . Yes. Juror number 52, are these your true and correct verdicts . Yes. Juror number 55, are these your true and correct verdicts . Yes. Juror number 79, are these your true amend correct verdicts . Yes. Juror number 85, are these your true and correct verdicts . Yes. Juror number 89, is this are these your true and correct verdicts . Yes. Juror number 91, are these your true and correct verdicts . Yes. Juror number 92, are these your true and correct verdicts . Yes. So say you one and so say you all. Yes. Members of the jury, i find that the verdicts as read reflect the will of the jury and will be filed accordingly. I have to thank you on behalf of the people of the state of minnesota for not only jury service but heavy duty jury service. What im going to ask you to do now is to follow the deputy back into your usual room and ill join you in a few minutes to answer questions and to advise you further, so all rise for the jury. Be seated. With the guilty verdicts returned, were going to have blakely, you may file a written argument as to blakely factors within one week. The court will issue findings on the blakely factors, the factual findings one week after that. Well order a psi immediately returnable in four weeks, and we will also have briefing on after you get the psi six weeks from now and then eight weeks from now we will have sentencing. Well get you the exact dates in a scheduling order. Is there a motion on behalf of the state . Your honor, the state would move to have the court revoke the defendants bail and remand him into custody. The bail is revoked, bond is discharged and the defendant is remanded to the custody of the Hennepin County sheriff. Anything further . Thank you. Were adjourned. So there you have it, less than ten minutes, guilty on all three counts. Guilty seconddegree murder, guilty thirddegree murder and guilty manslaughter. You saw the former Police Officer Derek Chauvin handcuffed. Hes going back into jail. He was out of jail on bail awaiting these verdicts. Guilty on all three counts. Lets get Immediate Reaction from don lemon. Don, youre watching this as closely as anyone. Justice has been served, and you can see the reaction from the crowd, how america feels, and im sure people who are watching all over this country, or watching all over the world on their devices getting messages from people as i am saying thank you, jesus. Thank god, finally, finally justice on all counts. The attorney for the crump family has reached out and given me a statement, wolf, and he says guilty. Painfully earned justice has finally arrived for George Floyds family. This verdict is a turning point in history and sends a clear message on the need for accountability of Law Enforcement. Justice for black america is justice for all america. We think minnesota a. J. Keith ellison and our team along with our legal team for fierce dedication to justice for george, but it does not end here. We still have work to do. We have to make the George Floyd Justice in policing act become law so we can hold Law Enforcement accountable and prevent so many of these unjustified killings of marginalized people of color. This reminds me in some ways, and its not specific, but it reminds me of the tension and the passion and the angst that was felt during the reading of o. J. Simpson, people on the street hugging each other. Other people were just beside themselves, but remanded into custody, the verdict spoke for itself, and if that didnt speak for itself, wolf, a Police Officer who had been on the job for years, a training officer, handcuffed and led away and the next place for him, the next home for him will be prison. You know, don, this is a powerful moment in American History that were watching unfold right now. Anderson, guilty on all three counts, seconddegree murder, potentially up to 40 years. We dont know if hell get that, thirddegree murder, 30 years maximum second and manslaughter, maximum sentence 10 years, but dont know if hell get all that but hes going to jail for a very long time. For viewers watching on the lefthand side of the screen in the lower corner, thats the location where george floyd was murdered. That is where Derek Chauvin murdered george floyd. Thats where were seeing George Floyds girlfriend. Van jones, your reaction to this verdict. One down and many, many more to go. But i think about that young girl who brought out her cell phone and stood there in horror not knowing what to do but just holding that phone steady. She did the right thing. All those Community Members who came and and begged and pleaded and talked. They did the right thing, that emt person did the right thing. People called the police, they did the right thing. When the police chief fired the man they did the right thing and when people marched by the millions they did the right thing and part of what i think the message has to be is that we have to get more involved. It started with that young girl. She got involved and then youve got a Community Stand up and you had a governor step in and take the case and give it to Keith Ellison to make sure that it was done the right way. This is the beginning of something. It is not the end of anything. This is the beginning of something. Where is congress . They need to act. Those chokeholds are still legal according to the federal government. That needs to change there. Hes no duty to intervene from the federal government. That needs to change. Theres no registry for cops like chauvin. That needs to change. Now when you have somebody like representative karen bass and tim scott fighting, we need to get behind them. This should never happen again. One down, many more to go. Sometimes when we fight we lose, but sometimes when we fight we win. The people won. When you saw Derek Chauvin putting his hands behind his back being handcuffed and led out of the court, what did you think . Justice. Justice. Ive seen so many kids who have done so much less than him walk out of courtrooms in handcuffs, with much less evidence. Ive seen kids do 20 years, 30 years on snitch evidence, just one kid testifying against another kid and go to prison. You dont have tv cameras and body cameras and cell phones. So many young people from that community sitting in prison and cops getting away with murder over and over again. Thats what justice looks like. When people all we want is the police to obey the law. Were not asking for anything but that, for the police to obey the law, and when they break the law they should have handcuffs just like anybody else. We dont want them to be below us or beneath us, they should obey the law. That is what justice looks like. Do you worry some people are going to see this and say okay, thats good. Its done. Its over. It took too long. It took too long. It took too much marching. It took too many tears and it was too close, and i dont care who you are. This morning you woke up afraid to hope. You were scared to hope. Even with all the evidence you saw you were scared to hope this morning. That tells you we need real change. Laura . You know. These bystanders we heard in the prosecutions closing. They bore witness to what was happening. They felt powerless. They felt guilt. They felt remorse that they could not do more and i remember that 18yearold who had the wherewithal and the fortitude to hold americas eyes to what was going on and said ive spent nights being guilt, apologizing to george floyd and then i realize its not what i should have done, its what you should have done talking to the officer who was standing there in that courtroom, and the idea here that here we are going from a feeling of powerless to having it handed over to the jury for them to now assign guilt to somebody who was not a part of the noble profession of Police Officers, that was acting under the color of law because he could and how dare anyone question my ability to keep my knee on the neck of a man for 9 minutes and 29 seconds. The this is a profound moment of justice, but its also one as van talks about i look ahead to what justice actually means in a definitive and holistic sense. This is but a start, but at least now i can answer my sons question when he says, mommy, what if that happened to me . I can at least show him what justice looked like today. I want to go to sara sidner. Explain where you are and what youre seeing. Sara sidner . Shes getting back into position. Well go back lets well go back to her very shortly. Laura, just in terms of what happens now, sentencing now is several weeks away. It is, and first what happens, as they said, youll have what is called the blakely factor, the aggravating factors. That means that the judge will now decide whether the idea that happening in front of the child we know as young as 9 years old, the idea of george floyd being particularly vulnerable in the position, the judge will assess those aggravating factors and the psi, the presentencing report essentially, and what that is to show the different they call them factors to say whats his remorse, whats his criminal history, if any. I suspect theres none. He was a Police Officer after all and the idea is what would a holistic Rehabilitation Plan look like . Remember, hes in the serving life in prison on any of these charges so hell one day return to society. What will that look like when he does . Laura coates talked about bearing witness and you a talked about it as well, the young woman who held the video camera up and all of us carry those cameras with us, but it really reminds so many people, reminds us all that we can bear witness in our own lives. Im not talking about videotaping things. Im talking about bearing witness to the struggles of others. Bearing witness to the pain, to the injustices that we see. That was one of the most beautiful things that happened. In january and february of 2020 if you had asked probably the average white person is Police Brutality a big deal, antiracism, some would have said yes and some would have said no. Because that have young woman and because of the video 20 million white americans marched according to like millions. I didnt say thousands. I said millions. There were black lives matter marches in idaho when they aint got no black people. That gives you a sense of how humanitys heart was touched, and so that shouldnt just happen in the streets when were marching. Theres so many opportunities to your point for us to do better. Listen, the empathy gap that were seeing throughout our politics can start to close had a little bit because dont forgot, its important for the young people to understand this. The police chief fired the guy and testified against him. There were people throughout the profession of Law Enforcement who came forward and did the right thing for once and all those people still have jobs and church is in jail so more cops can speak up. More Police Chiefs can speak up and more people can do the right thing in these situations. I want to go to don lemon. Don . Anderson, thanks. You know, van, youre absolutely right and so is laura. Laura, we spoke earlier today, and we talked about the people who were standing there on the side of the street and filming this, and, yes, they did feel helpless in the moment, but they didnt know their power then, but they certainly know their power now. But i just want to add to, you know, when van said that theres a lot more to be done. What there needs to be done, Police Officers around the country, Police Officers around the country are going to have to do things. They are going to have to hold their fellow officers accountable. There are other officers who were involved in this particular incident, and in that moment they did not it doesnt seem that they held their fellow officers accountable, and with the Army Lieutenant in virginia, no one held that officer accountable as he was spraying the other officer and treating him in a way that was just demoralizing and disrespectful, so its yes, its incumbent upon the citizens to hold these Police Officers accountable, but its going to be incumbent upon the organization and the fellow officers who are there every day with those officers who are not doing the right thing to hold them accountable. Go ahead. I just want to you were talking in officers. I want to bring in chief ramsey into our conversation. Yeah. Your perspective now when you see whats happened. Well, first of all, this is the right verdict, and i go back to the closing arguments that the prosecution made the comment that this isnt an antipolice trial. Its pro police trial, and when i think about all the men and women who have been killed in the line of duty serving horse, when i think about the bhen and women out there right now serving honorably, this decision supports them. It doesnt harm them. You know, ive been in policing for more than 50 years, and ive seen the good side of it, but there is a dark side, and thats the side that Derek Chauvin and others like him, thats where they operate is on that dark side and light has ton shown there. There has ton changes. There has to be reform, and i hope that this is a springboard towards towards really getting there because we have a short attention span. We tend to deal with whats the issue of the moment. Them kind of, you know, quiet down a little bit and then it comes back with something else. You cant afford to do that. I think the president is making a mistake by not taking the lead on Police Reform and saying, well, congress. Our congress cant do much of anything right now, and so, you know, there needs to really be leadership there. This is the moment. The moment is now. Im proud that i spent 50 years in policing. I wouldnt change anything in the world, but i also cant be blind to the fact that weve got people who have no business wearing a badge and a gun, and even in our training we dont we dont train. We dont teach the history of policing so young cops hit the streets and wonder why they go in some neighborhoods and people look at them with suspicion. They dont teach the history . Some departments do. Many dont. We dont teach people how to deal with power and authority. Can you imagine giving a 21yearold a badge and gun with stupid up car with lights and sirens and wonder why you have problems. I mean, you know, we have to really look at our profession differently and bring the people in that can hand telein so many different ways. This is the moment. Theres a lot that can be done. Im very im optimistic. I really am. Chief, do you think do you think that it makes a difference to have the police chief there and other officers . Yeah. Testifying against a fellow officer in a trial that is this big that has so much attention . You said a springboard. I think its a infliction point possibly. Well, the other officers is really more important than the police chief testifying because the average cop expects the police chief to be able to testify and say, well, he broke the rules, broke the regulations and so forth. Its the peer pressure the people on the street. When the time comes, when some cop that did something wrong and in that locker room, somebody pulls him aside and said, hey, we dont do that here. We dont do that, thats when you get change. Thats culture change, and thats what has to happen. It can happen. Not overnight. But it can happen and it starts with Holding People accountable that operate outside of the bounds of justice. Yeah. Youre right on. I want to get now to omar jimenez. You see the scene thats taking operation now in minneapolis and get out to where the folksing are where it looks like a celebration. This is cup foods where omar is, and this is where the event unfolded and the reason that were here today. Omar jimenez, what are you seeing there . Yeah, don, right now we had people literally throwing money in the air, but it has been a feeling and a scene of celebration from the very beginning, from when that verdict was read, guilty on all charges. You heard people cheering. You had people crying in these streets as well. You had people honestly in disbelief over the fact that we even got to this point that an officer was actually found guilty of a crime that they believed he committed long before the judge ever stepped into that courtroom and read that verdict. I mean, this is happening literal steps from where George Floyds final minutes played out, and right now you everywhere you turn, more people are coming into this crowd and they are getting more and more excited, and one of those people who was very emotional when the verdict was ruled, i want you to introduce yourself, and also just tell me why you were so emotional once you learned that the verdict was read. My feeling was its very bittersweet because his family much like a good friend of mine, sandy bland, sandy as i knew him, will never see him again, will never touch him, will never hug him and his daughter will grow up without a father. They will never see him again and hes still six feet under so justice in my opinion will never be served but it is very bittersweet. Its at least something. Were getting somewhere in this country. Were seeing some progress. I want to make sure i heard you correctly. You said youre a friend of sandra bland. Sandra blands. Thats a reminder when you look at the story that this is about so much more than just george floyd and George Floyds case, that this goes beyond his name it. Goes to sandras and other names like tamir rice. All the ones just in the minneapolis area. Bringing context ahead of the verdict whats your feeling . My feelings are that there is no justice in this country. There is no we have a big race problem. We have a policing problem. We need Police Reform immediately. This state has a bad problem with police. Were in a militarized zone right now. There are trucks everywhere all over the city, and were a peaceful city. Everyone has been peacefully protesting and were being attacked by Law Enforcement here. Well, let me ask you. Now that the verdict has been read and you got guilt on all charges where do we go from here . Where do we go from here . Its hard to say because the problem is we have a White Supremacy problem in this country and it was written into the constitution. David. And until that constitution is changed, its hard to say where were headed. Its hard to feel like theres going to be justice in this country ever for people of color. Were standing on stolen land right now and it just feels like, you know, were its hard to say. Reporter and i want to i appreciate you and your thoughts, and i want to get into the Person Holding ton your harm here who said me next, me next. The what do you feel about what happened today . What do you want to say to people out there . I dont know. Reporter all right. Well shoorksys wearing a sweatshirt that says stop killing black people and when you walk around George Floyd Square here you see signs and faces of those who have come before the george floyd case, cases that in many regards were marketofare hashtag and hashtag and case after case after case and i was talking to one activist earlier that in minnesota they know how to organize and they know how to push back and if you keep pushing and pushing eventually they will push back and they feel the verdict today in large part was because of the boots on the ground the pressure that was put on Public Officials to make sure that this case was prosecuted the right way and to see all of that followed through has been an incredible Emotional Experience for so many. I want to bring in the comments of one more person really quickly because in the moment right after the verdict was read he was incredibly emotional, b. J. I was standing right next to you when the verdict was read and you completely broke down as you put your fist up in the air. What was going through your mind in that moment. Basically just that this is this is something different. This is this is new. I was just because weve been here so many times before and honestly the first thing that i really thought about was the rodney king situation, and i thought it could have been something similar to that, just because we all saw that, too, and this feels like this feels like we can breathe. This feels like something new. Hopefully its a new day in america. Reporter b. J. , i appreciate you. Be safe out here. I want to send it back to you, wolf. Now obviously a scene of celebration here at George Floyd Square, the epicenter what have happened almost a year ago today. Omar, thank you very much. Were going to get back to you. Just to recap for viewers who may just be tuning. In the former Police Officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all three counts, seconddegree murder, thirddegree murder and seconddegree manslaughter. He was handcuff as he was escorted out of that courtroom. There you see it right there just moments ago. Derek chauvin, he was out on bail awaiting this verdict and now hes going to jail, and hell in jail for a long, long time. Were waiting for president biden, by the way. Were told hes going to make a statement to the American People momentarily from the white house reacting to the guilty verdicts. Lets go to Miguel Marquez right now. Hes over there at the scene of this murder. Omar, tell us what youre seeing over there at cup foods. I mean, miguel. Reporter yes, sir. This is Miguel Marquez and im at the Hennepin County Government Center where the verdict came down today, and as it was read out, this crowd erupted in what can only be described as elation after verdict after verdict was read. I spoke to one man right in the moment, and he was in tears. This is a guy im 6 foot. He was about 6 foot 36 foot 4. He was absolutely in tears. People holding on to each other. You can see right now. Its gone from the grounds of the courthouse to the street, and its essentially a street party in Downtown Minneapolis right now, and i dont know if, jerry, you can hit the building all the way from here, but you can see the Hennepin County Government Center. You can seat National Guard members along that that part of it above the steps there watching out over this crowd, and the crowd is now growing. If we look down the street on the other side of the Government Center here, the crowd is growing exponentially. Theres barbecues going, people on top of their cars. You even have somebody who has come out to do sign language for those who might need that service. This rig, by the way, the van that youre looking at with the speakers, that has been at Brooklyn Center almost every night. This is a rig that weve seen around town. This is something that whenever this particular van with the speakers show up you know that is sort of where people are gathering. Were also listening to i believe thats court any ross who is was George Floyds girlfriend who responded to us a short time ago about her feelings about this verdict coming down and just she could barely speak. She was slightly overwhelmed with emotion. She expected guilty verdicts on all three but to hear it is something different. Theres a real sense that this means not just something for minneapolis, not just something for minnesota but for the country, for Race Relations and for politician, that this may not be the biggest step forward but its certainly a step forward for people here in minneapolis. Wolf . It certainly is. Miguel, thank you very much. I want to show our viewers here in the United States and around the world the reaction of some of the crowd as they heard about the verdicts. Listen to this. [ cheers and applause ] culp negligence and creating an unreasonable risk, found the defendant guilty. Wow, guilty on all charges. Wheermt wow. Justice justice [ cheers and applause ] a celebration as they heard the quilty verdicts for the former Police Officer Derek Chauvin. They heard the Hennepin County judge peter cahill making the announcement in that courtroom. Sara sidner has been watching all of this from day one. Sara, youre there on the scene for us. Give us a sense of what youre seeing right now. The unfortunately, sara sidner, well have to reconnect with sara sidner. Don lemon, were watching all of this together with you, with anderson. All of our reporters who were there. So many people are watching. Reporter the brother of george floyd. He was in the court when the verdict was read. The he called me, and there were nothing but tears. He could basically hardly get the words out. He said that this gave him both relief and release hearing a guilty verdict on all three counts, second interesting and intentional murder, thirddegree murder and manslaughter. He was emotional. He could barely speak, but he wanted people to know that he thanked them for the support that they have been given throughout this entire process. We are trying to connect with him again now as he is, you know, coming out of the court, and we know that we will hear from the family. We know that we will hear from them in not too much time from now. Were expecting to hear from them very, very shortly, but we did hear from him. He called me from court once he was out, and and you are seeing the scene of people everybody is is here. Everybody is out in the streets. There are celebrations. There are a lot of tears. There is, you know, a lot of feeling going on right now, wolf. There certainly is, and were going watch it all unfold. We expect once again momentarily the president of the United States, president biden, will be making a statement. Hell be speaking to the American People on the guilty verdicts. Were also expecting to hear from state and other officials in minnesota. They will be reacting, but in the meantime on the streets of minneapolis where sara is, where miguel is, where omar is, theres a celebration going on right now. Don lemon, it shouldnt be a surprise that so many people, not only in minneapolis but around the country and probably around the world are relieved right new. Yeah, wolf, listen. Lets just think back to the coverage that you and i were dock in the afternoon in the situation room the last time we had that long of coverage, live coverage. It was during the gassing of Peaceful Protesters in washington, d. C. As we wait for this president to come out and make a statement now. The former president was preparing to hold on a moment. To do a photoop. Is attorney general together with other prosecuteors about to speak. I want to hear what he has to say. He was in overall charge of this prosecution. I guess they are going to be begin in a few second, but they are all gathered there. This is Keith Ellison speaking. Good afternoon, everyone. My name is keith elseion. Im the attorney general of the state of minnesota, and since the investigation and prosecution of this case began last may, everyone involved has pursued one goal, justice. We pursued justice wherever it led. The when i became the lead prosecutor for the case, i asked for time and patience to review the facts, gather evidence and prosecute for the murder of george floyd to the fullest extent the law allowed. I want to thank the community for giving us that time and allowing us to do our work. That long, hard, painstaking work is culminated today. I would not call todays verdict justice, however, because justice implies true restoration, but it is accountability which is the First Step Towards justice, and now the cause of just cities in your hands, and when i say your hands, i mean the hands of the people of the United States. George floyd mattered. He was loved by his family and his friends. His death shocked the conscious of our community, our country, the whole world. He was loved by his family and friends, but that isnt why he mattered. He mattered because he was a human being, and there is no way we can turn away from that reality. The people who stopped and raised their voices often may 25th 20, 20, were a bouquet of humanity, a phrase i stole from my friend jerry blackwell. A bouquet of humanity, old, young, men and women, black and white, is a man from the neighborhood just walking to get a drink, a child going to buy a snack with her cousin, an off duty firefighter on her way to a community garden, brave young women, teenagers, who pressed record on their cell phones. The why did they stop . They didnt know george floyd . They didnt know he had a beautiful family. They didnt know he had been a great athlete and they didnt know he was a proud father or that he had people in his life who loved him. They stopped and raised their voices and they even challenged authority because they saw his humanity. They stopped and they raised their voices because they knew what they were seeing was wrong. They didnt need to be medical professions or experts in the use of force. They knew it was wrong, and they were right. These Community Members, this bouquet of humanity did it again in this trial. They performed simple yet profound acts of courage. They told the truth, and they told the whole world the truth about what they saw. They were vindicated by the chief of police, by minneapolis longest serving Police Officer and by many other Police Officers who stepped up and testified as to what they saw and to what they knew. What happened on that street was wrong. We owe it and we owe our gratitude we owe them our gratitude for fulfilling their civic duty and for their courage in telling the truth. To countless people in minnesota and across the United States who join them in peacefully demanding justice for george floyd, we say, all of us, thank you. In the coming days, more may seek to express themselves again through petition and demonstration. I urge everyone to honor the legacy of george floyd by doing so calmly, legally and peacefully. I urge everyone to continue the journey to transformation and justice. The its in your hands now. I also want to address the floyd family if i may. Over the last year the family of george floyd had to relive again and again the worst day of their lives, when they lost their brother, their father, their friend. Im profoundly grateful to them for giving us the time we needed to prosecute this case. They have shown the world what grace and class and courage really look like. Although a verdict alone cannot end their pain, i hope its another step on the long path towards healing for them. Theres no replacing your beloved perry or floyd as his friends called him, but he is the one who sparked a Worldwide Movement and thats important. We owe our thanks to the men and women of the jury who gave many hours of their time and attention to carefully listen to the evidence, weighing the facts, rendering a verdict. They are regular people from all walks of life, a lot like that bouquet of humanity on that corner on may 25th and in that courtroom. They answered the call, and they served of in a landmark trial. They now deserve to return to their lives. The if they ask you to respect their privacy, we ask you to honor that request. I want to acknowledge the remarkable team that helped us prosecute the case. We put everything we had into that prosecution. We presented the best case that we could, and the jury heard us, and were grassiful for that. We had the sole burden of proof in the case, and history shows that winning cases like these can be difficult. Im proud of every hour, every minute and every ounce of effort we put in this case, and let me tell you we spent many hours working on this case, did we not . We week after week, Committee Meeting, Committee Meeting after Committee Meeting this team never let up, and it never cut. We fought every day, and we did it together. The Attorney Generals Office together with the Hennepin County Attorneys Office, thank you, sir, and we did it together. Im deeply grateful to everyone who worked on the case. Most of these folks will tell you its a bad idea to put together a team of all michael jordans. Nobody would want to pass the ball. This team that was their true strength is sharing the load, passing the ball, understanding that all of us together are smarter than any one of us alone, and that worked. Although the verdict has been rendered, this is not the end. In the coming weeks the court will determine sen tension, and later this summer we expect to present another case. We will not be talking about that. This victory minds us how hard it is to make enduring change, and i just want to finish by sharing some important historical legacy if you allow me. In 1968, the kerney commission was formed to investigate the causes of uprisings across major american cities, and a man named dr. Kenneth clark, a famous africanamerican psychologist who along with his equally accomplished psychologist wife mamie contributed to Compelling Research in the brown versus board of education case and dr. Clark testified at the kerney commission, and i want to quote you what he said. I read that refreshing the one in the 1919 riot in chicago, and it was as if i was reading the report and investigating the committee of the harlem riot in 1935. The report on investigating the harlem riot in 1943 and the report of the mccomb commission on the watts riot. I must say again in candor to you, the members of this commission, its like kind of an alice in wonderland with the same moving picture reshown over and over again, the same analysis, the same recommendation and the same end inaction. Those are the words of dr. Clark in 1968. Here we are in 19 here in 2020, 2021, here were in 2021 still addressing the same problem. Since dr. Clark testified, we have seen rodney king, abner luma, oscar grant, eric garner, michael brown, freddie gray, sandra bland, is castillo, mcdonald, stefan clark, jeff soviet republic, anton black, Breonna Taylor and now Daunte Wright and adam toledo. This has to end. We need true justice. Thats not one case. That is a social transformation that says that nobodys beneath the law, and no one is above it. This victory minds us that we must make enduring, systemic societal change. More than a month ago, months before george floyd was murdered, the minnesota Public Safety commissioner John Harrington and i released a recommendations of our working group on reducing Deadly Force Encounters with Law Enforcement. What all of us in that working group, including Law Enforcement wanted is for everyone to go home safe. Any time someone doesnt, everyones lives are changed forever. We need to use this verdict as an infliction point. What if we just prevented the problem instead of having to try these cases . We dont want anymore Community Members dying at the hands of Law Enforcement and their families lives ruined. We want we dont want anymore Law Enforcement members having to Face Criminal Charges and their familiar lies lives ruined. We dont want any more communities torn apart. One way to prevent that is to get into a new relationship where we as a society reexit use of force and our old subtle assumptions. Im so proud of chief arredondo and the minneapolis Police Officers who by their testimony said enough is enough, and another way to prevent it is by acknowledging and lifting up everyones humanity, helping communities heal and officers be well. Another way to prevent it is with accountability, passing laws and instituting policies and training is important, but they must be more than word on paper, and there must be accountability for vie hating them you. With this verdict we have brought some accountability. Finally this, verdict demands us to never give up the hope that we can make enduring change. Generations of people said slavery would never end. Generations said jim crow would never end. Generations said women would never be equal to men. Generations said if you are different in any way can you never be a full and equal member of our society. Today we have to end this travesty of those beliefs are things we have to focus our attention on. As i now do close, i just want to say to you the work of our generation is to put unaccountable Law Enforcement behind us. Its time to transform the relationship between community and the people who are sworn to protect them from one that is mistrustful, suspicious and in some cases terrifying into one that is empathetic, compassionate and affirming. That will benefit everyone, including Police Officers, who deserve to serve in a profession that is honored and departments where they dont have to worry about colleagues who dont follow the rules. Now, that work is in your hands, the work of our generation is to put an end to the vestiges of jim crow and the centuries of trauma and finally put an end to racism. We can end it. It doesnt have to be with us into the future if we decide now to have true liberty and justice for all. The work of our generation is to say goodbye to old practices that dont serve us anymore and to put them all behind us. One conviction, even one like this one tcan create a powerful new opening to shed old practices and reset relationships. So with that, i just want to say that i do hope that people step forward and understand that nobody can do everything, but everybody can do something. You can do something the way like everyday people like Donna Williams and Genevieve Hanson and Christopher Martin and Charles Mcmillan and young people stepped up and did something. You can do things like help pass the George Floyd Justice and accountability act. Its in your hands. Lets get the work done. Now id like to invite my friend and partner in Justice Michael f freeman Hennepin County attorney. Thank you, mr. Attorney general. First, i want once again to extend my heartfelt sympathy to the family of george floyd. I hope todays verdict provides some measure of closure for them. Now, let me say what a tremendous job attorney general Keith Ellison did in recruiting and organizing a talented team of prosecutors and supporting staff. Great job. Matt frank, jerry blackwell, Steve Flesher and Erin Eldridge were exceptional. They left the jury no alternative but to find mr. Chauvin guilty. We and the people of minnesota should rightly be proud of these four and your entire staff of volunteers and assistant attorneys general and the jobs they did over the last seven weeks. Im also proud from the moment that the Hennepin County Attorneys Office charged Derek Chauvin with murder and manslaughter four days after George Floyds murder, our team worked long hours side by side with the attorney generals team. Managing attorney general did legal analysis and writing. Joshua larson did witness prep and strategy development. And vernona boswell, manager of our Victim Services division has been in direct contact for nearly a year now with the family of george floyd. Victim and witness advocates jessica emerman and Keith Johnson managed all the witnesses, civilian and professional. My two deputies lolita and andy lefever and i supplied strategic advice and ordinarcoordination talented team 24 7. These guilty verdicts against mr. Chauvin cannot be the end of the conversation about officer killings of civilians. We need to prevent these killings in the first place. The legislature, as it moved into the final weeks of the session, must pass bills that will make policing fair and safe for all, but especially black men and women and other people of color. Ive been lobbying legislatures to pass these critical bills. If they fail, it will be time once again to have a statewide task force to hold hearings and come up with model legislation intending to put an end to these deaths. I am prepared to be part of that fight. Again, keith, great job. Thank you, mike. Now id like to ask the trial lawyers to share some thoughts if they have any. Before i do that, id like to myself thank a number of people. Im just going to start by well, why dont we just have our trial lawyers come forward and then well thank our whole team. So jerry, steve, which one of you all want to do it . Matt . Where did matt go . Thank you, attorney general ellison. When i say thank you to attorney general ellison, i want to thank you for calling me and calling me back into public service, which is something that i was able to do as a federal prosecutor, as a state prosecutor, as an assistant county attorney in the United States army. When i left private practice, i thought those days were behind me, but i received a call and it was from Keith Ellison. He gave me the opportunity to step back into public service, something that is so important to me, something that i cherish. I would just encourage anyone, if you get a call like that as an attorney, its a privileged life, its a noble profession, and if somebody calls you and they ask you for help, dont overthink it, just do it. As i found in my career, you get a lot more than you give. Im honored to have stood with the floyd family, to stood with the state of minnesota as we go through this painful process together. Its been my privilege to practice with this incredible, incredible gifted trial team. So i stand here today in gratitude. Im thankful. I want to thank the jury for their service, for doing what was right and decent and correct and speaking the truth and finding the right verdict in this case. Im jerry blackwell. My comments are going to be fairly brief. I want to first say thank you to all these selfless servants standing here and the many more that you do not see, who had the willingness, the courage, the passion, the intestinal fortitude to get into good trouble. They stepped into the light and they shined. For that, i say thank you, i am grateful for them. I am grateful for the opportunity that ive had to serve. Now, no verdict can bring George Perry Floyd back to us, but this verdict does give a message to his family that he was somebody, that his life mattered, that all of our lives matter. And thats important. And i also hope that this verdict, for all of the rest of collective all of us, will help us further along the road toward a better humanity. Thank you all. Matt frank. Well, i cant really follow that too much, but i just want to say that its been really a privilege to work with this Awesome Group of dedicated, hardworking people in this endeavor, but its also been just a total privilege to get to know the floyd family and to spend time with them and get to know them. Because first and foremost, this is for you, george floyd, and for your family and friends. Thank you. Thank you, matt. So let me also thank very pu publicly unfortunately we just lost that connection, but we actually weve just reconnected. Thank you zuri. And natasha robertson, i want to thank you and the next generation, the next generation of justice seekers. Dionne dodd, thank you very much. The i want to thank you vernona boswell. You are a star. I also want to thank so many other people. But with that, were going to close our comments right now and just say that we are prepared to continue to pursue justice. Thank you. So there you have the attorney general of minnesota, Keith Ellison, and the other prosecutors involved in this case. They did a brilliant job. They got guilty verdicts on all three counts, Second Degree murder, third degree murder, Second Degree manslaughter. Were anticipating that the president of the United States will be speaking shortly over at the white house. Well, of course, have life coverage when we hear from president biden. Hell be reacting to these guilty verdicts on all three counts. Im sure he is very, very pleased. Were also standing by to hear from George Floyds family. Members of the family, they are going to be speaking out. We will be standing by for live coverage of what they have to say. And we also, we just got a statement in from the former president barack obama. I think we can put it up on the screen. There it is. This is the former president barack obama. 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. That statement from the former president of the United States, barack obama. Ben crump, the lead attorney for the floyd family has also put out a statement, saying that the Vice President Kamala Harris has called the floyd family. I think we have a clip. Watch this
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