On Tuesday afternoon (4/20), people around the country tuned in to their televisions to see the final verdict for the case against former police officer Derek Chauvin after he allegedly used unnecessary force to kill George Floyd.
Chauvin was found guilty and convicted on all three counts: unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.
The jury reportedly deliberated for just over 10 hours following weeks of an intense trial. Judge Peter Cahill read off the verdict and the result had several country artists reacting on Twitter.
Mickey Guyton, who wrote the song “Black Like Me” after seeing racist attacks on Black people across the United States, simply tweeted a gif that read “Praise God.” Rissi Palmer also wrote, ” Exhale for the moment…” while Miko Marks added “Letting my tears flow free. I didn’t know I was holding them in.”
Guyton, Palmer and Marks were just a few of the country artists to post their immediate reaction. Chely Wright also tweeted “Amen,” while LeAnn Rimes added “Thank God.” Canadian country star Dallas Smith wrote “Guilty” with the hashtag Black Lives Matter.
The death of George Floyd on Memorial Day 2020 prompted nationwide protests and a call for a bigger conversation about police reform and racial injustice. In a video of the incident, Chauvin is seen kneeling on his neck for nine minutes and 39 seconds, while Floyd remained facedown and handcuffed.
The road to ending racial injustices still has a long way to go as another young Black man was shot just 10 miles away from where the George Floyd case was taking place. A police officer reportedly shot and killed 20-year-old Daunte Wright after allegedly mistaking her gun for a taser.
Following the reading of the verdict, Judge Chahill denied Chauvin’s request for bail and said that sentencing would take place in eight weeks.