Former U.S. President Barack Obama

This week, a jury in Minneapolis did the right thing.

For almost a year, George Floyd’s death under the knee of a police officer has reverberated around the world — inspiring murals and marches, sparking conversations in living rooms and new legislation. But a more basic question has always remained: would justice be done?

In this case, at least, we have our answer. But if we’re being honest with ourselves, we know that true justice is about much more than a single verdict in a single trial.

True justice requires that we come to terms with the fact that Black Americans are treated differently, every day. It requires us to recognize that millions of our friends, family, and fellow citizens live in fear that their next encounter with law enforcement could be their last. And it requires us to do the sometimes thankless, often difficult, but always necessary work of making the America we know more like the America we believe in.

Michelle and I send our prayers to the Floyd family, in the hopes that they may find peace. And we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with all those who are committed to guaranteeing every American the full measure of justice that George and so many others have been denied.

U.S. President Joe Biden

This week’s verdict is a step forward. I just spoke with the Governor of Minnesota, who thanked me for the close work with his team.

And I also just spoke with George Floyd’s family again -- a remarkable family of extraordinary courage. Nothing can ever bring their brother, their father back. But this can be a giant step forward in the march toward justice in America.

Let’s also be clear that such a verdict is also much too rare. For so many people, it seems like it took a unique and extraordinary convergence of factors: a brave young woman with a smartphone camera; a crowd that was traumatized -- traumatized witnesses; a murder that lasts almost 10 minutes in broad daylight for, ultimately, the whole world to see; officers standing up and testifying against a fellow officer instead of just closing ranks, which should be commended; a jury who heard the ev- idence, carried out their civic duty in the midst of an extraordinary moment, under extraordinary pressure.

For so many, it feels like it took all of that for the judicial system to deliver a just -- just basic accountability.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris

Today, we feel a sigh of relief. Still, it cannot take away the pain. A measure of justice isn’t the same as equal justice. This verdict brings us a step closer. And, the fact is, we still have work to do.

We still must reform the sys- tem. Last summer, together with Sen- ator Cory Booker and Representative Karen Bass, I introduced the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. This bill would hold law enforcement account- able and help build trust between law enforcement and our communities. This bill is part of George Floyd’s legacy. Black men are fathers and brothers and sons and uncles and grand- fathers and friends and neighbors. Their lives must be valued in our education system, in our healthcare system, in our housing system, in our economic system, in our criminal justice system,

in our nation. Full stop. Because of smartphones, so

many Americans have now seen the racial injustice that Black Americans have known for generations -- the racial injustice that we have fought for gener- ations; that my parents protested in the 1960s; that millions of us, Americans of every race, protested last summer.

We are all a part of George Floyd’s legacy, and our job now is to honor it and to honor him.

U.S. Congresswomen Sheila Jackson Lee

My God that we serve! We prayed for JUSTICE! America needs to heal, and we all have come together now! We got JUSTICE for you Big Floyd! Say his name #GeorgeFloyd

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo

As George Floyd’s hometown, the people of Harris County continue to feel his loss deep in our hearts. His family, his neighbors, his classmates, and his community will never forget his death and what it represents. While the justice system served its purpose today, there’s much more work to be done toward a smarter and fairer criminal justice sys- tem. George Floyd’s legacy will be with us every step of the way.

Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis

Following today’s verdict in the Derek Chauvin’s trial for the murder of George Floyd, Commissioner Rodney Ellis is- sued the following statement:

“For decades, our criminal legal system has failed to acknowledge the killings of Black and Brown people as crimes, declaring those responsible are innocent of any wrongdoing. Today, that changed.

“Derek Chauvin, the man whose knee stayed on George Floyd’s neck for over 9 minutes, who took George Floyd’s life, has been declared guilty on all charges.

“This verdict is important be- cause Derek Chauvin ended George Floyd’s life, and it is about time that we recognized the murders of Black people at the hands of the police as the crimes that they are. Make no mistake - real jus- tice looks like George Floyd being able to go home to his daughter, but I hope that this verdict brings George Floyd’s family and loved ones, who have been fighting for justice in the courts, some peace.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner

This week, Mayor Sylvester Turner paused along with the rest of the nation to watch as the jury returned three guilty verdicts in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was convicted in the murder of Houston native George Floyd.

“Let me say that justice has been served. The Floyd family has waited almost a year for this verdict. But they will experience the loss of their loved one, George, for the rest of their lives,” said Mayor Turner. My prayers go out to the George Floyd family. I talk- ed with them this morning, and so my prayers go out to everyone one of them. And in addition to that, my prayers go out to this country because there is a lot of pain, a lot of hurt, frustration, and division.”

“The jury has spoken, but it is time for this country to reach deep down and find a way to move forward. Be- cause as we deal with issues on multiple levels, we need the community and law enforcement to work hand in hand in the best interest of the people we serve. It is a time to be reflective and ask what we can do to make our city better, our country better, and find ways to work together,’ said Mayor Turner.

Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee

“I must admit that like many other Black Americans, after decades of seeing cases like George Floyd’s murder end without accountability or justice, I expected history to repeat itself, and for Derek Chauvin to escape justice. The jury finding Chauvin guilty on all three counts marks progress, but we must keep fighting until we are no longer shocked to see a jury convict someone who murdered a person on video for the world to see. The problem is systemic, and the solution will require convictions like today’s becoming the norm, not the exception.”

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg

Justice is a process and these jurors showed tremendous courage in reaching a just verdict.

Millions saw the video, which we all found devastating. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of George Floyd, a Houston son whose murder is a defining moment in American criminal justice.

President Southern Poverty Law Center Margaret Huang

“The killing of George Floyd was an appalling act of police violence that shocked and horrified millions of Americans and led to protests glob- ally calling for racial justice and po- lice accountability. We’ve all seen the sickening video of Derek Chauvin with his knee on George Floyd’s neck. Today’s verdict is an acknowledgement that police officers cannot get away with murder, but we still have a long way to go to achieve the justice demanded by so many protesters in the last year.”

Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David

"Today, humanity won over indiffer- ence. This verdict will not bring George Floyd back, but it does hold one officer accountable for the killing of one Black person. George Floyd’s story has inspired a movement around the world for racial justice. While we welcome exercising police accountability as a crucial step towards dismantling abusive, discriminatory policing, we also know that there is more work to be done to protect all Black lives. We should take a solemn moment to grieve with the Floyd family, as we pursue the systemic change necessary to end police killings of Black people and to remove the structures that support white supremacy from our society once and for all.”

Executive Director of PFLAG National Brian K. Bond

“A small step was taken with today’s guilty verdict, but the sad truth is that nothing will ever return George Floyd safely to his family or to make it possible for him to hug his child Gianna. This verdict is validation of the deep-rooted problem of systemic racism, but far from justice served. There is so much more work to be done. It only starts with this national conversation that has finally been elevated around policing and racism in this country--and it is in- cumbent upon all of us to be engaged. “

Interim Superintendent of H.I.S.D.

Dr. Lathan Statement

On this day, we say his name: George Floyd. His face is seared into our mem- ory, and his final words have pierced our hearts. His image is emblazoned on murals from all over the world to Jack Yates High School, his alma mater. An HISD alum awakened not only the moral consciousness of a nation, but the world. That is George Floyd’s legacy – and now a part of HISD’s history. But our future can be different by shifting the dialogue on social justice in our country.

As the Interim Superintendent of Houston ISD, I take that responsibil- ity very seriously and strive to achieve educational equity in our communities. I firmly believe students will take the lessons they learn in our classrooms and build a better future for all of us.

President The Executive Leadership Council Michael C. Hyter

“The brutal killing of George Floyd will stand as a glaring example of the wholesale reform of criminal justice and full inclusion that is still needed in all aspects of society. The Executive Lead- ership Council and our entire member- ship community stand in solidarity with the Floyd family, and all families whose loved ones have been senselessly killed, along with citizens around the world, in working constructively towards a more just society where everyone is treated the same regardless of their skin color.”

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka

“We are relieved the jury delivered justice for George Floyd’s family. Floyd’s murder shocked our collective conscience and sparked a movement for change that has inspired America over the past year. While this verdict is welcome news, the work of dismantling systemic racism and white supremacy is just beginning. As members of our communities and representatives of union public safety professionals, the labor movement has a unique role to play in changing this culture of policing.”

“We are hard at work develop- ing a public safety blueprint for change, and we look forward to using our experience and influence to heal this nation through liberty and justice for all.”