The Verdict

"A jury in Minneapolis did the right thing,” former President Barack Obama said in a joint statement with former First Lady Michelle Obama. President Joe Biden referred to that guilty verdict in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin as "a step forward."

In case you missed the news, former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murdering George Floyd, the jury finding Chauvin guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The judge revoked his bail and remanded him to the custody of the sheriff, with sentencing to come eight weeks from now.

It was an emotional moment. I was livestreaming the announcement, not realizing how hard the news would effect me. My voice cracked, and with tears in my eyes, I was momentarily unable to speak. It is a step forward, but there needs to be many more steps. We need to be involved and not forget.

The word "justice" was used by many last night, but even though we certainly agree with the jury's decision, this probably isn't the best word.  In fact, Keith Ellison, the Attorney General of Minnesota spoke to that saying "I would not call today's verdict justice, however, because justice implies true restoration. But it is accountability, which is the first step toward justice."

So much more to do, especially with news from Columbus, OH just moments before the Chauvin verdict was read. A 16-year-old Black girl was shot by police there.