By Yasmeen Akbar
Anxiety and anticipation ran rampant as the verdict for the George Floyd murder trial came out on Tuesday.
“It felt as though we had been waiting hours for a decision that should have been clear-cut, yet we still sat there scared of the results to come,” Synitha Walker, 48, said.
The trial lasted about three weeks at a Minneapolis courthouse with Judge Peter Cahill presiding over the trial.
After over 10 hours of deliberation, the 12 jurors were ready with their verdict.
At this point, anticipation ran high as it took over two hours for the verdict to be announced.
“I believe they took so long to announce the verdict to allow police around the country to get in place in case the verdict results led to riots,” Melanie Moseley, 51, stated.
Moseley, who has served on various juries, explained that when you’re on a jury and the decision on the verdict has been made, jurors take their seats in the juror box, give the decision to the foreman and after the judge asks the jury the necessary questions, the verdict is then ready to be announced. Moseley argued, “that this is not a two-hour process, they were getting people in place in case riots ensued.”
Derek Chauvin, the officer being tried for the murder of George Floyd was found guilty on all three charges: second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
“I was so excited I cried like a baby,” Moseley said when asked about her initial reaction to the verdict.
“I cried because while I knew that was supposed to happen, I feel like it’s the calm before the storm and it's almost like they just gave us this to keep the world at rest,” she said.
Many others shared Moseley’s same sentiments whereas others were left unsatisfied.
“I didn’t feel anything, I just thought. Why are we getting excited over something that should be happening anyway? We’re applauding the justice system for doing their job, it’s like giving props to a fish for swimming,” Walker said.
She explained how she doesn’t want to be overjoyed over this one isolated incident because this was not a symbol of reform or that “the government suddenly cares about black people” she stated.
George Floyd was murdered last May by Derek Chauvin after being suffocated for over 8 minutes. The murder went viral after video footage was released on social media platforms causing riots and protests all over the country.
President Biden spoke with Floyd’s family after the verdict was released.
“I assured them that we’re going to continue to fight for the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act so we can — I can sign it into law as quickly as possible,” Biden said.
Vice President Harris said in an interview with CNN that “it [a guilty verdict] will not take away the pain of the Floyd family. It will not heal the pain that has existed for generations.”
Both Biden and Harris advocated that congress pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act which will prohibit law enforcement on all levels from discriminatory profiling and mandate training on religious, racial and discriminatory profiling, according to judiciary.house.gov.
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Sources
Melanie Moseley
Synitha Walker
CNN
judiciary.house.gov