Celebrations and joy erupted outside the Minneapolis courthouse in the US on Wednesday morning as former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of murdering an African American man George Floyd.
Chauvin has pinned Floyd to the pavement with his knee on the Floyd's neck. The case sparked off worldwide protests, and even led to violence in many US cities. It also started the debate for reexamination of racism and policing in the U.S. Chauvin,45, could be sent to prison for decades.
The jury of six white people and six Black or multiracial ones came back with its verdict after about 10 hours of deliberations over two days. Chauvin was found guilty on all charges: second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the first African American woman in her position, addressed the nation on Tuesday night after the verdict was announced.
"It was a murder in the full light of day, Biden said, calling systemic racism "a stain on the nation's soul." He added had spoken with the family of Mr. Floyd again – he had spoken with them on Monday.
"America has a long history of systemic racism," said VP Kamala Harris, adding that Black people – Black men in particular – have been treated as "less than human" throughout the course of history.
"Black men are fathers, and brothers, and sons, and uncles, and grandfathers, and friends, and neighbours. Their lives must be valued in our education system, in our health-care system, in our housing system, in our economic system, in our criminal-justice system, in our nation," Harris said.
