The conviction of former Police Officer Derek Chauvin, Tuesday, prompted swift reaction from community organizations and elected officials.
Chauvin was charged with second-degree and third-degree murder, as well as second-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, while in police custody. That death sparked nationwide protests, including numerous Black Lives Matter rallies in the Hudson Valley. A jury found him guilty on all charges after deliberating for approximately 10 hours.
“I join our nation as we continue to grieve the loss of George Floyd. My heart is with his friends, family, and loved ones as they continue to feel his absence.," said Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney. “Today, America watched as Derek Chauvin was held accountable for the murder of George Floyd. This ruling is a critical first step towards justice. We have an opening to fix this broken system, and we must stay the course. Now is the time for meaningful legal reforms that will deliver transformational change and enduring justice for Black Americans. We must begin by making the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act the law of the land.
“Democracy cannot exist where there is racism. Where there is racism, there is violence. There is no peace. There is always exclusion, and there is always pain. In the words of Amanda Gorman, we are not broken; we are just unfinished. We can heal this wounded world, and we can make it a wondrous one, but only if we do it together.”
Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison said the inhumane treatment of Floyd at the hands of the the police officer who forecefully placed a knee on his neck cannot and will not go unpunished.
"As mayor of this city and as a retired police officer and father of a police officer, I find Chauvin’s actions repulsive and want the community to know our city Police Department works in earnest each day to keep strong ties and an open dialogue with the community," Rolison said. "This city has repeatedly shown it can overcome adversity and find a way to work together regardless of what might be happening throughout the nation or the world, and for that I will always be grateful.”
The community organization Nobody Leaves Mid Hudson reflected a similar sentiment in a Facebook post Tuesday.
"George Floyd should be alive today, but we hope that his loved ones can finally feel some kind of peace," the post noted.
Every day, police across the country repeat the same kind of violence with impunity. Countless people, with names that we will never hear, will never know justice. "Our shared fight for justice must continue. We must root out systemic racism and injustice from all of our institutions. We must invest in our communities, not the militarization of law enforcement. And we must demand action from our elected officials so that justice is not just something we talk about after Black and brown people are murdered."
The group No Hate Here had a concise message on its page.
"We still have work to do. This is a start."