The verdict for former Minneapolis officer, Derek Chauvin, has been released after the jury deliberated for eight hours. Chauvin was found guilty of all three charges: second degree murder, third degree murder, and second degree manslaughter. He faces up to 75 years in prison, but we won’t know the sentence for another eight weeks. Second degree murder alone has a maximum sentence of 40 years, third degree murder of a maximum of 25 years, and second degree manslaughter has a maximum sentence of 10 years. However it seems that he will not be sentenced for the full 75 years as he has no previous criminal record, and in accordance of Minnesota sentencing standards, he will not receive the full sentence.
At the end of the day, the justice system has played its roll and the verdict is up. We need to respect and at the bare minimum understand that the verdict has been decided in the manner that the US justice system sees fits. George Floyd and his family has gotten the justice our justice system sees fit.
More news from All Teen Politics will be up as soon as new information is out. In the meantime I highly urge you to watch the video of the verdict being announced, and to read other articles and watch other sources to learn the most you can about this.
Let’s use this news to reflect and recognize the roll of systemic racism around the world. This is not the first conviction and it will not be the last in the process of overcoming racism. No matter your opinion on the topic, I hope you can use this experience to reflect on yourself and on the world we live in. I know I will never forget watching the riots or being on the bus home from school, watching the verdict be announced. I hope that we might see this trial for what is was: a light being brought to racism and bias.
People around the country and world are handling this news in a variety of ways and I encourage you to recognize what we have lived through. No matter if you agree with the verdict or not, we need to be respectful of all the different reactions. Know that if you are grieving and having a hard time processing this, that I am always open to talk. I hope that this website will allow everyone an outlet for the feelings that have come up through this trial.
Sources-
Derek Chauvin convicted of murder and manslaughter in death of George Floyd
By Timothy Bella, Abigail Hauslohner and Keith McMillan
Derek Chauvin guilty of murder in George Floyd's death
By ByJanelle Griffith
Live: Derek Chauvin Guilty On All 3 Charges In Murder Of George Floyd | NBC News
To this day I dont understand why out of millions of people who are convicted of crimes Derek chauvin is all over the media.