The Derek Chauvin murder trial stemming from the death of George Floyd came to a dramatic culmination on Tuesday with the jury finding the former Minneapolis police officer guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter.
Despite video evidence pointing in the direction of Chauvin being guilty, this verdict was not a slam dunk. It also brings to the forefront the need to reform police departments around the United States and the push for racial equality in this country.
As has been the case since Chauvin murdered Mr. Floyd a year ago this coming May, the sports world has been paying close attention on what’s happening in the United States. The NFL just recently reaffirmed its support for social justice reform and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Now, the Minnesota Vikings are following suit.
“The past year following George Floyd’s death has been extremely painful for the Minnesota community, particularly for the State’s Black residents. While today’s decision does not minimize the anguish or solve intolerable issues of racism and hate, we hope it can mark the beginning of community healing,” the Vikings said in a statement.
Obviously, this statement is in relation to Chauvin being found guilty on all three felony charges after he killed George Floyd back in May of 2020. Said incident led to protests throughout the United States on a scale we have not seen since the Civil Rights movement decades before.
“Now, more than ever, it is crucial to respectfully listen, communicate and engage in order for us to move toward an equitable society,” the Vikings’ statement read. We must address the unacceptable continued violence and hate toward People of Color and commit to using our individual and collective voices to end the divisiveness and racial injuries.
The Minnesota Vikings continued by noting that “our work is just beginning.”
As a major player within the Minneapolis community, the Vikings have not taken a back seat when it comes to fighting for racial equality, both locally and nationally. This statement is the latest example of that.