April 20, 2021
Carson
City, NV– Today,
Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford released the following statement
regarding the Derek Chauvin trial. Derek Chauvin is a former Minneapolis,
Minnesota police officer accused of murdering George Floyd on May 25, 2020.
Chauvin's murder trial began on March 29, 2021. Today, a jury delivered a verdict
of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree
manslaughter.
"Today,
a jury held George Floyd’s murderer accountable," said AG Ford.
"Mr. Floyd’s life mattered, just as every innocent life taken at
the hands law enforcement does. Let this trial serve as
evidence that we will no longer tolerate the heinous killings of African-Americans
and minorities at the hand of rogue police officers.”
“I would like to thank my colleague in Minnesota, Attorney
General Keith Ellison and his team for prosecuting this case with
professionalism and integrity to hold Mr. Floyd’s murderer accountable.”
“Many Nevadans have asked me how I felt about this trial,
and to be frank, it was too painful for me to watch. I did not want to relive
the trauma – trauma that is, unfortunately, a common re-occurrence for me and
so many others. As an African-American, I don’t take the mistreatment of
members of my community or any minority community lightly. As Nevada's top law
enforcement officer, my duty will always lie on the side of accountability and justice.
Today, we saw specific accountability. But the fight for perpetual justice
continues.”
“Historically, the
relationship between law enforcement and communities of color has been
strained, to say the least, and I have always said that law enforcement must
make proactive efforts to augment, restore, and create trust,” AG Ford
continued. “After Mr. Floyd’s death, I made every effort to reach out to
Nevadans by hosting a series of town halls – the Justice & Injustice Forum
– with law enforcement officials, community leaders, legislators, and others to
develop tangible ways to improve relations between law enforcement and the
communities we serve, particularly communities of color. The conversations were
uncomfortable, but entirely necessary. And some of the solutions arising out
the forum are now being implemented or legislated, including two bills my
Office sponsored that are pending in the Nevada Legislature right now.”
“My thoughts and
prayers continue to go out to Mr. Floyd's family. And I reiterate my commitment
to all Nevadans to continue an open and honest conversation with you. I will always
work to seek justice on your behalf.”
To
view AG Ford’s recorded statement, click here.
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