In the conclusion of one of the most high-profile court cases in recent American history, a Minneapolis jury has found former police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of the murder of George Floyd. While the case was a touchstone for social activists around the country because of the disturbing video that documented Floyd's murder, it also served to galvanize stars around the NBA to support movements aimed a rectifying racial injustice and police brutality.
With the announcement that Chauvin had been found guilty on all three counts leveled against himβand could face up to 40 years in prison because of it-stars around the league were quick to react to a verdict that many hope represents a turning point in the fight for equality.
Justice and Accountability! Things I never thought I would see. Thereβs much more work to do, but this is an amazing start working toward the reform this country NEEDS!
β Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) April 20, 2021
Progress..
β DeMarcus Cousins (@boogiecousins) April 20, 2021
God is good all the timeβ¦..βπΎππΎ
β Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) April 20, 2021
ππ½ππ½.. Long Overdue.
β Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) April 20, 2021
β¦ justice
β Ricky Rubio (@rickyrubio9) April 20, 2021
ππΏππΏππΏ
β Tim Frazier (@Timfraz23) April 20, 2021
Accountability is now trending π
β Kevin Love (@kevinlove) April 20, 2021
Put his ass under the jail
β Josh Hart (@joshhart) April 20, 2021
https://twitter.com/jarenjacksonjr/status/1384618236512067597
Guiltyπ
β Reggie Bullock (@ReggieBullock35) April 20, 2021
https://twitter.com/Mbeasy5/status/1384616047559397378
1 , 2 , 3 β¦ Justice π―
β RJ (@RjHampton14) April 20, 2021
ππΎ
β Bobby BP Portis (@BPortistime) April 20, 2021
Justice.
β Tre Jones (@Tre3Jones) April 20, 2021
Justice βπ»βπΌβπ½βπΎβπΏ
β Andre Drummond (@AndreDrummond) April 20, 2021
In addition to the outpouring of support from players for the decision that the jury reached in the case, the league office and NBA player's association also released a joint statement hailing the moment for its significance.
βGeorge Floyd's murder was a flashpoint for how we look at race and justice in our country, and we are pleased that justice appears to have been servedβ the statement read, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. βBut we also recognize that there is much work to be done, and the National Basketball Association and the National Basketball Players Association, together with our newly-formed Social Justice Coalition, will redouble our efforts to advocate for meaningful change in the areas of criminal justice and policing.β
Amid the reactions from players and the league, however, it may have been Jamal Crawford that best summarized the collective anxiety that characterized the lead-up to the verdict.
But the fact we all saw what we saw last year, and STILL were nervous about if he would be held accountable, shows how far we have to goβ¦
β π Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) April 20, 2021
Because of George Floyd, perhaps we can start to breathe again.