Chauvin found guilty in George Floyd's murder

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been found guilty on all charges nearly one year after George Floyd died in his custody on the side of a city street.

The video of Chauvin with his knee on Floyd's neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds touched off protests by millions of people in the U.S. and around the world, calling for racial justice and police reform.

In Chauvin's much-watched criminal trial, he faced faced three counts: second-degree murder — unintentional; third-degree murder; and second-degree manslaughter. Following the verdict's reading by Judge Peter Cahill, cheers of "justice" and "Black Lives Matter" erupted outside the Minneapolis courtroom and at the location where Floyd was killed. Chauvin's sentencing is expected in eight weeks.

After the conviction, the Floyd family's attorney Ben Crump released a statement which read in part:

“Painfully earned justice has arrived for George Floyd’s family and the community here in Minneapolis, but today’s verdict goes far beyond this city and has significant implications for the country and even the world," the statement reads. "Justice for Black America is justice for all of America. This case is a turning point in American history for accountability of law enforcement and sends a clear message we hope is heard clearly in every city and every state."

Members of Congress also weighed in, including U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, of Vermont, who said the outcome "offered some measure of accountability" in the ongoing struggle for change.

"This verdict is an important step for our country as we wrestle with centuries of injustice," Welch said. "But there is so much more work to do in our communities, in the halls of Congress, and in each of our lives to build a society free of bigotry and inequality. We all must commit to do the work, every day."

In remarks after the verdict was released, Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden urged Congress to pass the sweeping reforms in the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. They also noted the importance of reversing the impact of racism.

“It’s the work we do every day to change hearts and minds, and well as laws and policies. That’s the work we have to do. Only then, will full justice and full equality be delivered to all Americans,” Biden said. “And that’s what I just discussed with the Floyd family. The guilty verdict does not bring back George, but through the family’s pain, they’re finding purpose, so George’s legacy will not be just about his death, but about what we must do in his memory.”

— Gareth Henderson