Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford speaks out on the conviction of Derek Chauvin

Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford

Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford released the following statement regarding the Derek Chauvin trial. Derek Chauvin is a former Minneapolis, Minnesota police officer who was accused of murdering George Floyd on May 25, 2020 and convicted on April 20, 2021 of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. 

Today, a jury held George Floyd’s murderer accountable. 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. 

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 of 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.

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