George Floyd’s Family Reacts To The Recent Sentencing Of Derek Chauvin
Justice and accountability are not the same things. Accountability is a part of justice, but it is not justice. Part of accountability is taking responsibility for your actions.
On Friday a judge sentenced former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin to 22 1/2 years in prison for the 2020 murder of George Floyd. The murder of Mr. Floyd, an innocent Black father, sparked protests and clashes across the country. Members of George Floyd’s family reacted to news of the sentencing. Rodney Floyd called the sentence a “slap on the wrist.” Rodney is one of George Floyds brothers. “We’ve suffered a life sentence for not having him in our life, and that hurts me to death,” he said.
Terrence Floyd, another one of George Floyds brothers, said he was “a little leery about the sentencing”. Leery means cautious or wary due to realistic suspicions. Members of the Floyd family, including George Floyd’s daughter, testified on Friday at the sentencing.
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Chauvin only has to serve two-thirds of his 22 1/2 year sentence in prison (15 years) before he is eligible for supervised release for the other 7 1/2 years. He faced up to 30 years in prison. His attorney’s asked only for probation.
“When you think about George being murdered, in cold blood with a knee on his neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds execution style in broad daylight, 22 and a half years is not enough,” Brandon Williams told reporters. Williams is one of George Floyd’s nephews. “We were served a life sentence. We can’t get George back.”
A Word On Accountability & Justice
Justice and accountability are not the same things. Contrary to reports, Derek Chauvin’s conviction and sentencing do not mean that Black lives matter now.
Update On Change: The George Floyd Act
Several politicians in Congress first presented the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act back in 2020 after George Floyd’s murder. The bill contained changes to policing practices. Congress, however, did not approve the Act in 2020. This year several politicians again presented the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The bill is still not law. President Joe Biden campaigned for President in 2020 promising to take executive action for police reform. He has not taken any action since winning the 2020 election, largely due to Black voters. President Biden recently said he would not take any executive action, telling aids he favored action from Congress. It is not clear if there is enough Democratic or Republican support for any law to change policing, even after George Floyd’s murder.
