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What Mass. officials are saying about the guilty verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial

Chauvin was found guilty on all charges in the killing of George Floyd last May.

A memorial to George Floyd outside of Cup Foods convenience store in Minneapolis.

By Dialynn Dwyer

Massachusetts officials applauded the guilty verdict issued Tuesday in the murder trial of fired Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin for the killing of George Floyd, the Black man who died after he was pinned to the pavement with Chauvin’s knee on his neck last May. While the elected leaders said justice was served in the case, the politicians stressed that the nation still has work to do in addressing systemic racism in America.

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Chauvin was charged with second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. The verdict was reached after about 10 hours of deliberations by the jury over two days. 

The jury found Chauvin guilty on all charges. 

Below, what Massachusetts elected officials are saying about the verdict in the case.

Gov. Charlie Baker 

“Eleven months ago, Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin subdued and handcuffed George Floyd, and then knelt on his neck for over 8 horrific minutes.

Since then, many states and municipalities, horrified by the viral video of George Floyd’s death, have enacted significant law enforcement reforms – including here in Massachusetts.

But for many, the most important unanswered question since that awful night has been much more personal: Where is the justice for George Floyd – and for that matter, Officer Chauvin?

Nothing can reverse the pain, suffering and agony of George Floyd’s family and friends, but this decision does make clear that Officer Chauvin was not above the law. He was given a fair trial, found guilty, and he will pay a price for his actions.

But as the countless, tragic events that took place at the hands of law enforcement before and after George Floyd’s death make clear, there is much to do to correct, reform and reimagine the way law enforcement officers are trained, and how they and their departments are held accountable for their actions.

Massachusetts enacted one of the most comprehensive police training, transparency and accountability laws in the country at the end of last year. We owe it to all those whose lives have been lost to do all we can to successfully implement that law, and sustain its aspirations far into the future.”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren

Sen. Ed Markey

Rep. Ayanna Pressley

Rep. Jim McGovern

Rep. Bill Keating

Rep. Seth Moulton

Rep. Lori Trahan

Rep. Katherine Clark

Acting Boston Mayor Kim Janey

“As a grandmother of teenage boys, as a Black woman who has felt the need to tread lightly in a world that criminalized my Blackness, as a community organizer who has dedicated my career to racial justice, as the first Black mayor and the first woman mayor of the city of Boston, I continue to pray for the family of George Floyd.

And I know the importance of the African proverb, ‘When you pray, move your feet.’ And our work here in the city of Boston must continue.

I commend the jury and the prosecutors in this case. George Floyd’s name now represents the urgency of racial reckoning and police reform across our country. While many of us breathe a sigh of relief, George Floyd and countless others are still dead, and the conditions that led to so many senseless killings still exist.

While I am truly grateful for a guilty verdict, I know that our work in our city and in every other city across America to advance racial justice continues. I encourage the residents of Boston to engage in this work with us. Doing the work to dismantle structural racism will take all of us.

I invite us to all come together to not only reimagine our criminal justice system and how we police. I encourage you to engage with us in city contracting, and housing, and education, and so many issues that need our attention. As mayor, I promise the city of Boston bold and courageous leadership.

Tonight, I stand with you, and together we will support the people of our city with meaningful dialogue, productive engagement, and collective action to advance equity and racial justice in Boston.”

Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins

Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell

Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu

Boston City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George

 

Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo

Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui

Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone

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