Derek Chauvin, former Minneapolis police officer, was found guilty of two counts of murder in the death of George Floyd after the brutal incident between the two on last May. The video of police brutality set off massive protests around the United States and across the world as well.

Chauvin was also found guilty of third-degree manslaughter. He had his bail revoked and was taken into custody. Sentencing will be taking place in eight weeks. He is facing a sentence of up to 40 years in prison.

The verdict was read in court and televised live to the whole nation. The streets around the courthouse were filled with people awaiting the verdict and various National Guard soldiers outside the building.

Reuters

The trial began on late March and lasted for three weeks. Derek Chauvin’s initially pleaded as not guilty on all three charges. Still, it only took the jury just over 10 hours of deliberation after closing statements on Monday to reach a verdict. The trial with raw witness testimonies has been one of the most watched in decades. A key witness for the prosecution was a young woman who recorded the brutality of the arrest of Mr. Floyd – video that sparked some of the biggest protests in American history.

Reuters

“I’m feeling tears of joy, so emotional,” Mr. Floyd’s brother Philonise Floyd told CNN. “This right here is for everyone who’s been in this situation, everybody.”

President Joe Biden spoke shortly after the verdict was announced and said that the conviction of the former Minneapolis Police Officer “can be a giant step forward” for the country to fight against systemic racism. He spoke from the White House alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, calling for Congress to act swiftly to address police reform. He also communicated via telephone with Floyd’s family to express his support.