George Floyd’s family and their lawyers said Friday that the sentencing of Derek Chauvin offers imprisonment, responsibility – and a step towards recovery for both the family and the nation.
They also called for political action for lasting change.
“Once a police officer who wrongly took the life of a black man was held accountable. While this should not be exceptional, it is tragic. Day after day, year after year, the police kill blacks without consequences. which was very unthinkable a very short time ago, ”he said family statement, announced civil rights lawyer Ben Crump.
Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, was convicted to 22 1/2 years in prison on Friday for the murder of George Floyd last year.
The family says they now want Chauvin convicted of a federal charge against him, and that the other three accused police officers will “face the consequences for their actions.”
The statement also noted progress.
“It’s important to acknowledge how far we’ve come. Those who have raised their voices seeking justice for George Floyd need to know that their activism has made a difference,” the family said.
They pointed not only to Chauvin’s condemnation and sentencing, but also to reforms made across the country, including restrictions on suppression and improved training and protocols.
But they do not want the change to end there.
“We need this sentence to open a new era of responsibility that transforms the way the police treat blacks. To achieve that,” they said, “we need the U.S. Senate to pass the George Floyd Police Act without further delay.”
The American House, led by Democrats, passed the measure in early March. Announced by senators preliminary, bilateral agreement on police reform On Thursday night, though, the specifics of the plan were not immediately clear.
President Biden hoped Congress would adopt reform efforts by the first anniversary of Floyd’s death.
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