After former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty on Tuesday of murdering George Floyd, stars took to Twitter to praise the verdict, but also called for lasting systemic change to prevent racially motivated violence at the hands of police officers.
After the jury deliberated for over 10 hours, they found Chauvin guilty on all three of the charges he was facing: second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. Chauvin’s bail was revoked and he will be detained until his sentencing, which is set to take place in eight weeks. Chauvin’s charges could result in a maximum sentence ranging from 10 to 40 years in prison.
Kerry Washington asked her followers to keep fighting for justice, writing: “A guilty #verdict. But this fight for justice is not over. We have a lot of work to do. There is more fight ahead of us. But RIGHT NOW please take CARE of yourself. And let’s take care of each other. Prayers and love to the family of #GeorgeFloyd.”
A guilty #verdict. But this fight for justice is not over. We have a lot of work to do. There is more fight ahead of us. But RIGHT NOW please take CARE of yourself. And let’s take care of each other. Prayers and love to the family of #GeorgeFloyd.
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) April 20, 2021
Alongside a painting of Floyd, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” actor Viola Davis wrote, “GUILTY!!!! As it should be!! Now….Rest In Peace George Floyd. Rest. You and your family have been vindicated.”
GUILTY!!!! As it should be!! Now….Rest In Peace George Floyd. Rest. You and your family have been vindicated. ❤❤👊🏿 #SayHisName
🎨@4NIKKOLAS pic.twitter.com/DgVFG7UVPF— Viola Davis (@violadavis) April 20, 2021
Whoopi Goldberg said, “no one wins,” writing: “George Floyd is still gone..and finally someone was responsible… Derek Chauvin.”
Guilty Guilty Guilty… No one wins.. George Floyd is still gone..and finally someone was responsible… Derek Chauvin
— Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) April 20, 2021
Chris Evans sent love to the family and friends of George Floyd, simply writing: “Justice.”
Justice. Sending love to George Floyd’s family and friends.
— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) April 20, 2021
Colman Domingo rejoiced in the verdict, writing: “Finally. Finally. Finally. We we keep on marching. We keep on moving the needle. We keep raising our voices. We keep loving. We keep believing. Let’s keep on keeping on. Justice. Justice. Justice.”
Finally. Finally. Finally. We we keep on marching. We keep on moving the needle. We keep raising our voices. We keep loving. We keep believing. Let’s keep on keeping on. Justice. Justice. Justice.
— Colman Domingo (@colmandomingo) April 20, 2021
Yvette Nicole Brown pointed out that “this isn’t even a celebration.” “#GeorgeFloyd was still murdered before our eyes,” she wrote. “He’s gone. His family will never be made whole. And how many #DerekChauvin’s are there in the world & on the police force. There’s more than ONE bad apple. But this enough for this moment.”
And this isn’t even a celebration. #GeorgeFloyd was still murdered before our eyes. He’s gone. His family will never be made whole.
And how many #DerekChauvin’s are there in the world & on the police force. There’s more than ONE bad apple.
But this enough for this moment. ❤️
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) April 20, 2021
“Bridgerton” executive producer Shonda Rhimes echoed Brown’s sentiment, writing, “This verdict does not bring back Mr. Floyd. But justice is truth.”
This verdict does not bring back Mr Floyd. But justice is truth.
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) April 20, 2021
Mariah Carey called the verdict “a beginning.. a small grain of hope for our future.”
A beginning.. a small grain of hope for our future.
— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) April 20, 2021
Voting rights activist Stacey Abrams wrote, “The evidence of our eyes met at last by accountability in the eyes of justice.”
The evidence of our eyes met at last by accountability in the eyes of justice. #DerekChauvinTrial
— Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) April 20, 2021
Sen. Cory Booker reminded his followers that there is still justice to be carried out on a systemic level. “This verdict is justice served — but it is not justice for George Floyd. True justice would be a country where George Floyd would still be alive today,” Booker wrote. “True justice demands action — it demands change & that we do everything we can to stop this from happening again & again & again.”
This verdict is justice served—but it is not justice for George Floyd. True justice would be a country where George Floyd would still be alive today. True justice demands action—it demands change & that we do everything we can to stop this from happening again & again & again.
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) April 20, 2021
“Full Frontal” host Samantha Bee wrote: “George Floyd’s murder was another horrific reminder of our country’s broken law enforcement system and the damage it has inflicted on the Black community. Today’s verdict, though a beginning, will never be enough, but we hope his family can find peace.”
George Floyd’s murder was another horrific reminder of our country’s broken law enforcement system and the damage it has inflicted on the Black community. Today’s verdict, though a beginning, will never be enough, but we hope his family can find peace. #BlackLivesMatter
— Full Frontal (@FullFrontalSamB) April 20, 2021
However, Speaker Nancy Pelosi drew backlash on Twitter for the statement she made following the verdict. According to a video posted by Timothy Burke, Pelosi said: “Thank you George Floyd for sacrificing your life for justice … but because of you, and because of thousands, millions of people around the world who came out for justice, your name will always be synonymous with justice.”
An absolutely bizarre statement from Nancy Pelosi about a man murdered by law enforcement pic.twitter.com/LEmFYHpWtW
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) April 20, 2021
In response to Pelosi’s statement, “Empire” writer Eric Haywood wrote: “White people, I promise you it’s okay to just not say anything.”
White people, I promise you it’s okay to just not say anything https://t.co/24OsqtJrKn
— Eric Haywood (@EricHaywood) April 20, 2021
In a note to employees, Tony Vinciquerra, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures celebrated the jury’s decision. “Today’s guilty verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin is a resounding victory for everyone who has spent the last year trying to heal from the terrible events of last summer and fighting for accountability and justice,” Vinciquerra wrote. “As a company firmly committed to diversity and human rights, it is my hope that today’s decision will be a harbinger of greater unity and lasting change.”
See more reactions below.
While I’m encouraged by today’s verdict, George Floyd’s murder is part of a larger crisis of systemic racism against Black Americans — and a reminder of the work we all must do to improve our society. We owe it to future generations to do that work and build a better future.
— Charles H. Rivkin (@CharlieRivkin) April 20, 2021
Bail revoked guilty on all counts
– Derek chauvin is just a start
The George Floyd police reform act that law must pass.
The insurrectionist in gop including Donald trump -who are as much of a white supremacist must face justice –— John Cusack (@johncusack) April 20, 2021
We still have to fight for justice yall. Remember that “we voted Obama in yay racism is gone!” feeling? Yeah…let’s learn from that. I’m happy for the Floyd family tho. Especially his daughter. But there is still a slew of mountain to climb.
— B.R.O.theR. ?uestion (@questlove) April 20, 2021
GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY. GUILTY.
— Natasha Rothwell (@natasharothwell) April 20, 2021
✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿
— Don” ‘t stop believing” Cheadle (@DonCheadle) April 20, 2021
Thank you #DarnellaFrazier https://t.co/BfUXghI6cW
— Liz Garbus (@lizgarbus) April 20, 2021
When you’ve lost Pirro… https://t.co/kqTy6AZHCm
— Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) April 20, 2021