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Crowd gathers at Freedom Corner in Pittsburgh after Chauvin conviction - TribLIVE

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“Guilty on all three counts.”

A man read the verdict from a cellphone as a crowd of several dozen people gathered Tuesday at Freedom Corner in Pittsburgh’s Hill District. Jurors convicted former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. Floyd’s death last May led to protests in Pittsburgh and worldwide, along with increased scrutiny of police tactics and racism in the United States.

By 7 p.m., the crowd grew to about 100. Some marchers walked to Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood and were still there at 8:30 p.m.

Floyd died May 25 after Chauvin, a 45-year-old white officer, pinned his knee on or close to the 46-year-old Black man’s neck for about 9½ minutes as Floyd gasped that he couldn’t breathe and onlookers yelled at Chauvin to get off.

Six member of the jury were white and six were Black or multiracial. The jury came back with its verdict after about 10 hours of deliberations over two days. Chauvin was found guilty on all charges: second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

In Pittsburgh and the surrounding region, officials weighed in on the conviction — expressing support and relief.

“I was relieved to see that justice was served in the jury’s decision today finding Derek Chauvin guilty of all three charges in the horrific murder last year of George Floyd,” said Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto.

State Rep. Ed Gainey, who is running for mayor of Pittsburgh, showed up at Freedom Corner shortly after the verdict.

“This is a long time coming,” Gainey said. “When you think of all the African Americans who have been murdered at the hands of the police … to be found guilty on all three charges, it’s a great first step.”

Gainey said there is much more work to be done.

“We’ve got to continually work on our police-community relations,” he said. “If we don’t, then we can’t continue to change. This is the beginning of a national change. This is a historic day.”

But while officials were pleased with the outcome of the trial, they also noted there is still work to be done to bridge the racial inequities that exist nationwide.

Brandi Fisher, chief executive of the Alliance for Police Accountability, said she is grateful Floyd’s family got this moment of justice.

“We share this moment with them,” she said. “But we do not forget that this movement is not about individuals. That this movement is about the collective. That this movement is about systemic change. We do not forget that an entire country was on edge. An entire country was not sure what the verdict would be after we all witnessed a very long and tortuous murder in front of our eyes.”

Fisher said it was hard to feel victorious.

“It is our hope that this verdict sends a message to the powers that be,” she said.

The guilty verdict is a chance for society to move forward and work toward racial equity, said Pittsburgh City Councilman Ricky Burgess.

“To be honest with you, I had been in prayer about the verdict. I did not know what to expect,” Burgess said. “I am relieved that this verdict has occurred and we’re prayerful that this will be an inflection point for us to move forward. Now we have a clear validation that Black lives do matter, that those with power and authority cannot lynch, kill, assassinate an unarmed Black man. This is a place to begin a national conversation.”

Moving forward, Burgess said, he hopes to continue working toward police reforms in Pittsburgh.

“We still have to reimagine police, which probably means a smaller force,” he said.

State Rep. Summer Lee, D-Swissvale, said George Floyd’s murder and the year that followed has caused an “immense” emotional toll.

“Bittersweet feels like an understatement for a family and community whose loved one was violently murdered by the state, and yet, a rare guilty verdict,” she tweeted. “The emotional toll has been immense. Take your time to process this. Love up on each other.”

Peduto said there must be ongoing efforts toward racial justice.

“I also realize that no verdict can bring back a life or eliminate the pain the Floyd family and so many Americans — especially in our Black community — continue to feel,” he said. “We cannot erase centuries of systemic racism, and our efforts to uplift and support our minority neighbors must continue today and for years to come.”

On Tuesday afternoon, Pittsburgh school board member Sala Udin gathered with friends at Jerry’s Pizzeria on Wylie Avenue in the Hill District to watch the verdict in the Chauvin trial.

“A lot of my friends hang out here, and I wanted to be here with them,” said Udin, a Freedom Rider during the civil rights movement.

As the verdict was announced — guilty on all counts — he said, there was “jubilation.”

“We are elated right now, but we know it can turn around with a different result tomorrow,” Udin said.

It’s too soon to tell whether the Floyd verdict will bring national, systemic change, he said. “We have to celebrate this victory, and keep our feet on the gas.”

Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik said the case should remind people that every life is precious.

“The verdict in the George Floyd case is a declaration that we must all be committed to the protection of everyone in the community and that our communities are committed to justice,” Zubik said. “It is my prayer that this verdict is not an end, but an important step on the road to uprooting the sin of racism from our hearts and from our communities.”

At Freedom Corner, Pittsburgh activist Tanisha Long felt relief in the guilty verdict. But, she said, “I’m still tired.”

“I still know we have a fight going on, and I still know it’s not going to end today, tomorrow or anytime soon,” she said.

In analyzing what led up to the verdict, University of Pittsburgh law professor David Harris said the death of Floyd was something that didn’t have to happen.

“It was the kind of act that showed a streak of cruelty,” said Harris. “This was pretty cold-blooded.”

Approval of the verdict went beyond elected leaders. The Pittsburgh Penguins also released a statement supporting Chauvin’s conviction and promising progress against racism.

“You don’t need a jury trial to watch the video and know that George Floyd was murdered,” Penguins President and CEO David Morehouse said. “We are engaging with our employees who have experienced racial injustice, and we are redoubling our efforts in the community to fight racism and promote positive social change. We hope today’s verdict provides some semblance of healing to the Floyd family.”

Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert said Chauvin’s actions in Floyd’s death were not in line with good policing.

“As police officers, we have a fundamental duty to care for and safeguard everyone and anyone in our custody. That did not occur. A man was deprived of his life, a family was deprived of their loved one, a community was deprived of their faith in the people who are entrusted to keep them safe,” Schubert said.

Floyd’s death, Schubert said, shone a light on police accountability and reform.

“The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police recognizes that our legitimacy is highly dependent on the mutual trust and respect we have with the communities we serve,” he said. “Law enforcement is always evolving and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police remains steadfast in its commitment to working hand in hand with the public to implement professional law enforcement services that are fair, equitable, transparent and procedurally just to all members of the community.”

Natasha Lindstrom, Paula Reed Ward, Julia Felton and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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