Major Athletes Weigh In On Derek Chauvin's Conviction

Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who was responsible for killing George Floyd last year, was found guilty of three counts of unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter on Tuesday. This conviction is, historically, a huge moment for racial injustice in America. Most police brutality cases go uncharged, and Chauvin's conviction is the first step toward a more just system, though there's still work to be done. LeBron James, an active spokesperson and supporter of BLM, shared his thoughts after the trial concluded. "ACCOUNTABILITY," he wrote in a tweet.

Patrick Mahomes also gave a brief but powerful response, saying only "πŸ™πŸ»" in a tweet. Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves has been actively watching the trial play out, and he wrote "Justice and Accountability! Things I never thought I would see. There’s much more work to do, but this is an amazing start working toward the reform this country NEEDS!" on Twitter. Several other high-profile athletes took to social media to share their emotions on the trial as well. 

Bubba Wallace wrote, "Justice served on all counts. Good. Still a ton of work to do. Continue to rest peacefully #GeorgeFloyd βœŠπŸΎπŸ™πŸΎ" Trae Young said, "WAY MORE WORK TO DO." Ryan Clark gave a poignant statement: "Remember, the jurors only did the right thing. Nothing special, not above & beyond. They held Derek Chauvin accountable for his actions under the law. That was their job, & they did it. We just aren’t used to seeing it. This was the verdict we as a country deserved." A majority of opinions posted leaned in favor of the verdict and of BLM and the fact that this is just one small step toward fixing a major, cyclical problem. 

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Post originally appeared on American Upbeat.