Media Contact: Patrick Wright -- Patrick.Wright@mail.house.gov
Washington, D.C. — Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. released the following statement regarding the 22-year and six-month prison sentence given to former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020. Chauvin was convicted of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter for killing Mr. Floyd after he knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes.
“I am glad we are seeing the criminal justice system work for African Americans in this case. While I thought Mr. Chauvin should have received life in prison for killing George Floyd, the judge has passed sentence and we will abide by it. We know the Floyd family will never be the same after experiencing such a tragic loss of a loved one. But I hope that they feel that justice has been served. I wish them peace and God’s blessing as they heal from this horrible situation.”
Mr. Floyd’s death sparked protests across the country and worldwide against police brutality and racial profiling in law enforcement. In response, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in March. The bill ends racial profiling in law enforcement, bans chokeholds and “no-knock” warrants, and establishes a federal standard for police conduct to end police brutality, particularly against African Americans.
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