‘Today is just a start’: Beloit groups react to the verdict in George Floyd murder case – Beloit Daily News

BELOIT Key figures in Beloit are reacting to the guilty verdict rendered on Tuesday in the murder trial of a Minneapolis police officer in the death of George Floyd in May of 2020.

After deliberating for 10 hours, the jury found Derek Chauvin, a White police officer, guilty of murder and manslaughter in Floyds death that sparked nationwide protests and calls for sweeping police reforms.

Chauvins bail was revoked following the guilty verdicts rendered by the jury on second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Newly-appointed Beloit Police Chief Andre Sayles said Tuesday the department was thankful for the jurys verdict.

We are thankful that the jury saw what I and many law enforcement officers throughout the United States sawthat George Floyd was murdered at the hands of Derek Chauvin, Sayles wrote in a post on the departments Facebook page. I was horrified seeing the videos knowing that could have been my family, my sons, or even me.

In the wake of Floyds death, multiple peaceful protests were held in Beloit in conjunction with the Beloit chapter of Black Lives Matter and Showing Up for Racial Justice.

We must make sure we dont confuse an officer being held accountable with having a fair and just justice system, said Beloit Community activist Yusuf Adama, who helped organize last years demonstrations. We must ensure that, with this verdict, comes deliberate actions made to ensure that individuals dont lose their lives in altercations with police officers. Hopefully the outcome of this trial can begin a precedent of officers no longer walking free after taking the lives of the people theyre supposed to be protecting.

Sayles said he was proud of the communitys response to Floyds death in the wake of protests across the country that turned violent.

I was proud of our community for coming together to have their voices heard in a peaceful manner, Sayles said. I am also proud of all of our officers who served our community and represented our department during these tumultuous times.

In response to the #8CANTWAIT policy demands being circulated to police departments across the country, then-chief David Zibolski responded noting that the department was in compliance with all eight standards requested by protestors, from updated use of force policies to banning chokeholds and strangleholds.

Command staff would continue to train officers in various areas, from implicit bias, de-escalation to mental health awareness, and defense and arrest tactics, Sayles added.

Today is just a start. We will continue the conversations and we promise you this: we will hold our own accountable and we will stand out against unjust violence, Sayles said.

Beloit NAACP President Tia Johnson said accountability prevailed in Tuesdays verdict, calling the moment of mutual hopefulness and faith in our nations judicial system.

Justice is fair behavior and treatment; this means every one of us treating all human lives with humanity, dignity, and sincere respect, Johnson said. As with the numerous other Black Americans who have died due to excessive police aggression or force, there never will be justice for George Floyd. Endeavors to prevent others from being deprived their earthly justice is a long, dedicated effort that will require persistence, patience, and work.

In a statement, Johnson said the Beloit chapter of the NAACP called for a better approach to recruiting and training officers at all levels was needed to improve the nations policing system. The group also called for ending qualified immunity and eliminating unfair practices based on prejudice.

We all must practice the age-old Golden Rule, in law enforcement, in education, in politics, in healthcare, in businessin every aspect of society and in our own livesthen we can achieve true justice for all, Johnson wrote on behalf of the organization.

In response to the verdict, the Beloit chapter of Black Lives Matter issued a statement calling the actions by Chauvin as traumatic as it is unforgivable, and called on people continue to address the racism and culture of justifying violence that the group says enabled Chauvins actions.

Rest in peace, power and love, George Floyd, the groups statement reads. We were all owed better than your execution in broad daylight by an officer meant to protect us all. If there is any justice, and that remains to be seen, his punishment today will serve notice to ALL who dare treat our lives as if they do not matter.

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'Today is just a start': Beloit groups react to the verdict in George Floyd murder case - Beloit Daily News