Following the announcement at around 5.05 p.m. on Tuesday, April 20, that Derek Chauvin had been found guilty on all counts in the murder trial of George Floyd, as reported by The Hill and other media outlets, various Bronx elected officials took to social media to voice their thoughts and reaction to the verdict.

 

State Sen. Gustavo Rivera, representing the 33rd senatorial district, said in a statement that Floyd had been unjustly murdered by Chauvin and that he commended the decision taken by the jury in declaring Chauvin guilty on all three counts “for violently taking Mr. Floyd’s life.” He said, “While this decision will not bring Mr. Floyd back to life, I hope that his family and loved ones find some solace after a traumatic year.”

 

Rivera went on to say that people deserved more than accountability from police officers who flagrantly inflict unnecessary violence on the people they are supposed to protect and serve. “We are still grieving for George Floyd a year after his death and lives lost to police violence in the last week alone, like Daunte Wright and Adam Toledo,” he said. “Now more than ever, it is our responsibility as leaders to continue working to change a system that is not only failing, but killing Black communities.”

 

Wright was a 20-year-old African-American man who was shot and killed by a police officer on April 11, during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, MN. Adam was a 13-year-old Mexican-American shot and killed by a Chicago police officer on March 29. The senator went on to say that while the verdict was not full justice, it was accountability. “A good start that we had to fight for and need to continue to build on,” he said, before adding, “Rest in Power, George Floyd.”

A black man needed to be murdered on camera for law enforcement to be held accountable.

Nothing will give George Floyd his life back. There can't be justice for one until there's justice for all.

We have so much more work to do. #BlackLivesMatter.

— Adriano Espaillat (@RepEspaillat) April 20, 2021

 

As coverage of the reaction to the verdict continued on Tuesday, news of a further police-involved shooting dampened a cautious sense of hope that the tide might be beginning to turn when it comes to justice for victims of policing shootings. It was reported that a 16-year-old girl, Ma’khia Bryant, from Ohio was shot by police the same evening.

 

City Councilman Fernando Cabrera, who represents the 14th City Council District and who is running for the position of Bronx borough president, declared “justice has been done.” He said the entire world watched the court proceedings, waiting to see whether there would be justice for George Floyd. “Our standing as a nation committed to justice for all has been challenged by a spate of racially motivated violence and murder that has called attention to unresolved injustice that has been part of our history for centuries,” he said.

 

Cabrera went on to say that he had attended Floyd’s funeral. “[I] saw first-hand how the inhumane treatment he received from Officer Chauvin tore Minneapolis and our nation apart,” he said. I commend the jurors in this trial for their steadfast commitment to justice and fairness to George Floyd, his family and our nation.”

 

 

Meanwhile, Congressman Jamaal Bowman, who represents the 16th congressional district, had called for calm ahead of the verdict during a peace rally organized by Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark which was held on Sunday, April 18, in Co-Op City. Bowman had encouraged parents to speak with young people about the situation ahead of the verdict being announced.

 

Following Tuesday’s result, the congressman tweeted, “We’ve known Chauvin was guilty since the second we saw him murder George Floyd on film – but we also know the racism inherent in our carceral and policing systems.” He continued, “This verdict doesn’t change that racism, or the work ahead needed to transform those systems to serve us.”

 

Clark followed up, joining Bronx community stakeholders in a further rally on Tuesday, April 18, on the steps of Bronx Borough Hall, and once again called for peace in The Bronx once the verdict was announced.

 

The @SoBoBID was proud to stand with @bronxdaclark as well as local community & clergy leaders today to encourage Bronxites to exercise their voice peacefully in response to the verdict the #GeorgeFloydTrial. pic.twitter.com/8j91FgoZre

— Southern Boulevard Business Improvement District (@SoBoBID) April 20, 2021

 

Rev. Dr. Deborah D. Jenkins, co-founder of Daughters 4 Justice, and senior pastor at Faith @ Work Christian Church in Co-Op City, who had attended Sunday’s rally also released a statement following the verdict, saying, “My heart was racing in anticipation of the verdict because I’m the mother of Black 21 year old man! After my tears of relief, I dried the tears understanding that this was not the justice we are still in search of, but the first step in accountability. The struggle continues.”

 

We've known Chauvin was guilty since the second we saw him murder George Floyd on film — but we also know of the racism inherent in our carceral and policing systems.

This verdict doesn't change that racism, or the work ahead needed to transform those systems to serve us.

— Jamaal Bowman (@JamaalBowmanNY) April 20, 2021

 

State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, who represents the 34th senatorial district, was succinct in her response, tweeting simply, “Guilty,” as was Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, representing the 81st Assembly District, who tweeted simply, “Justice, at last.”

 

Guilty.

— Alessandra Biaggi (@Biaggi4NY) April 20, 2021

 

Biaggi later released a long statement, saying, “Today, Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all three counts for murdering George Floyd almost one year ago. We know that today’s verdict will not bring George Floyd back, but I hope George Floyd’s family and loved ones are able to find some closure in today’s conviction.” She added, “Like many of my fellow Americans, I felt a sense of relief that for once the correct verdict was reached. While there is now accountability for George Floyd’s murder, the struggle for justice continues.”

 

The senator went on to say that over the course of Derek Chauvin’s trial, over 60 Americans were murdered by a police officer. “We will have justice when Black Americans are no longer murdered, assaulted, and needlessly harassed by the police,” she said. “We can envision and create a future where armed police do not criminalize existence at every turn, and continue to cause so much loss and pain to Black, Indigenious, and people of color across the nation. True justice is a world where governments ensure safety without violence.”

 

Biaggi concluded, “George Floyd’s name lives in our hearts as we continue to fight for justice and accountability for Black lives everywhere.”

Justice at last.

— Jeffrey Dinowitz (@JeffreyDinowitz) April 20, 2021

 

Congressman for the 15th Congressional District, Ritchie Torres, gave his reaction in a segment on News 12, The Bronx. Circulating the segment on Twitter, Torres added, “The mission of racial justice is far from accomplished but justice has been served.” He continued, “This conviction represents a rare moment of accountability in the criminal justice system. I feel a sense of relief. Today, we made progress but we need a major culture shift in American policing.”

 

City Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson, who represents the 16th City Council district and who is currently running for the position of Bronx borough president also released a statement, saying the murder of Floyd last year sent shockwaves throughout the country. “The world watched as a young African-American man was senselessly murdered on videotape, and it reignited a conversation on racial injustice in our country,” she said. “We took to the streets last summer demanding accountability for Mr. Floyd`s death, and today the jury found former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin guilty of murder.”

 

Gibson said that today was an important moment in the history of the United States of America. “Our advocacy, fight, and work towards a fair and just society was solidified with today’s guilty verdict, but we know our work is far from done,” she said.

 

The councilwoman went on to say that we must continue to lift up the names of Adam Toledo, Tamir Rice, Breonna Taylor, and so many others that were senselessly killed in our country, simply for being a person of color. “The murder of George Floyd captured the hearts of Americans, particularly people of color, who have faced discrimination, racism, and oppression for four hundred and one years in this country,” she said. “Many of us went into this trial with a level of hope and optimism, praying for justice. While we recognize justice can bring comfort and healing to the family, our fight for all Black lives must continue.”

 

Gibson said she would continue to pray for the family and friends of Floyd. “May his death never be in vain but continue to be a catalyst for necessary change in this country!” she said.

 

The mission of racial justice is far from accomplished but justice has been served. This conviction represents a rare moment of accountability in the criminal justice system. I feel a sense of relief. Today, we made progress but we need a major culture shift in American policing. pic.twitter.com/X7AuYwBj43

— Rep. Ritchie Torres (@RepRitchie) April 20, 2021

Newly elected councilman in the 15th City Council District, Oswald Feliz, tweeted, “Keeping George Floyd’s family in my prayers. We must do everything we can to ensure this never happens again.”

 

Meanwhile, newly elected councilman in District 11, Eric Dinowitz, tweeted, “Guilty on all charges. Derek Chauvin has been held accountable, but the pain and suffering felt by Black people across our country is still there. We must continued to demand the justice that everyone deserves.”

 

Guilty on all charges. Derek Chauvin has been held accountable, but the pain and suffering felt by Black people across our country is still there. We must continue to demand the justice that everyone deserves.

— Eric Dinowitz (@EricDinowitz) April 20, 2021

 

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. also tweeted his reaction, which was retweeted by Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernández, who represents the 80th Assembly District and who is also running for the position of Bronx borough president. Diaz Jr. said, “The decision that former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin will be held accountable for his actions is the right one. However, Mr Chauvin must now also receive the highest possible sentence for his heinous crime.”

 

The decision that former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin will be held accountable for his actions is the right one, however, Mr. Chauvin must now also receive the highest possible sentence for his heinous crime. pic.twitter.com/Vt9xiuaHac

— Ruben Diaz Jr. (@rubendiazjr) April 20, 2021

 

As reported, Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The Hill reported that Chauvin’s defense team had portrayed the former police officer’s actions during the killing as a normal part of police work, and also rested on the idea that other factors led to Floyd’s death, a premise rejected by prosecutors.

 

Keeping George Floyd's family in my prayers. We must do everything we can to ensure this never happens again. #SayHisName #GeorgeFloyd

— Oswald Feliz (@FelizForNYC) April 20, 2021

 

 

NYPD Police Commissioner Dermot Shea also tweeted his reaction to the verdict, saying, “Justice has been served. NYPD will be out tonight to ensure that peaceful demonstrations have the ability to proceed safely.”

 

At around 5.05 p.m. on Tuesday, it was reported by The Hill, and other media outlets that Chauvin has been found guilty on all counts in the case i.e. second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The Hill reported that Chauvin’s defense team had portrayed the former police officer’s actions during the killing as a normal part of police work, and also rested on the idea that other factors led to Floyd’s death, a premise rejected by prosecutors.

 

Floyd was murdered while in police custody in Minneapolis in May 2020.

 

Congressman Adriano Espaillat, who represents the 13th congressional district, also tweeted his reaction to the verdict, saying, “A Black man needed to be murdered on camera for law enforcement to be held accountable. Nothing will give George Floyd his life back. There can’t be justice for one until there is justice for all. We have so much more work to do. #BlackLivesMatter.”

 

*David Greene contributed to this story.