Former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin has been sentenced to 22 and 1/2 years for the death of George Floyd. Chauvin was found guilty on one charge of second-degree murder, one charge of third-degree murder, and one charge of second-degree manslaughter.
George Floyd’s death gripped the nation, and parts of the entire world. Floyd’s death also sparked the second wave of Black Lives Matter, which happened during the earlier phases of the pandemic and also the 2020 Presidential election. George Floyd has become part of popular culture and his name is a rallying cry for social justice activists worldwide.
News of Chauvin’s sentencing garnered mixed reactions. Some say that Chauvin was given an entirely-too-harsh sentence because of myriad factors. Some say that there was a concerted effort to avoid more summertime Black Lives Matter riots. Then there is the question about a tainted jury pool. One of the jurors failed to mention his participation in a rally featuring George Floyd’s brother in Washington DC, a long way away from his Minneapolis home.
Other people say that the sentence did not go far enough. Television commentators like Van Jones say the sentence was a slap in the face and that Floyd should have gotten the “ultimate of the ultimate”. The truth is that no evidence was presented that shows Derek Chauvin had any intention to kill George Floyd on that fateful day. To say that Chauvin did not get enough time is an opinion that does not appear to be rooted in reality.
According to the judge, the juror who allegedly misrepresented himself may have given Derek Chauvin a golden ticket to a successful appeal. The case may not necessarily get thrown out altogether, but there could be a dramatic reduction in the sentence.
SOURCES:
Derek Chauvin Gets 22 1/2 Years in Prison for George Floyd’s Death
Derek Chauvin sentencing: Former police officer sentenced to 22.5 years in death of George Floyd – CNN
What Happened at Derek Chauvin’s Sentencing for George Floyd’s Murder – The New York Times
CNN’s Van Jones: Chauvin Sentencing a ‘Punch in the Gut’ — ‘This Is Not Justice’
Celebrities react to Derek Chauvin’s sentencing for George Floyd’s murder | Gallery | Wonderwall.com
Noor sentenced to 12 1/2 years in death of 911 caller Justine Ruszczyk | MPR News
Somali-American Police Officer Sentenced to 12.5 Years in Death of Minneapolis Woman – The New York Times
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