After the conviction of Derek Chauvin, the entourage of George Floyd wants to continue the fight

REPORTAGE

The verdict was eagerly awaited, not only in the United States, but around the world. White policeman Derek Chauvin was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison on Friday for the murder of African American George Floyd. A “historic” decision, according to the lawyer for the family of George Floyd, while the brother of the victim calls for continuing the fight.

For Ben Crump, the lawyer for the Floyd family, this decision allows relatives of the black forty-something and the United States “to take a step closer to reconciliation”. “Today marks a turning point in the United States. It is the longest sentence ever imposed on a police officer in the history of the state of Minnesota,” he said. he declares. “But this conviction should not be an exception,” he added. “When a black person is brutally killed by the police, that should have to be the norm.”

“We have to stand up and fight”

“For his part, George Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd, paid tribute to the international mobilization that followed his brother’s death. But he also called for continuing the fight for the victims of police violence, while he hoped Derek Chauvin would get the maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. “I’ve spoken to so many different people all over the world and they all think the same … The color of your skin shouldn’t define who you are. It should never be a weapon, “he told reporters.” It’s not just black lives that matter, all lives matter.

“We have to stand up and fight,” insisted Philonise Floyd. “You can’t be satisfied with that, because if you stop people will forget about you.” And to conclude: “George is not here, but his spirit is here.”