NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama and tristate politicians including Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday praised the jurors who found ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of murdering George Floyd.
Speaking at a news briefing Tuesday night, Biden called the verdict "a step forward."
"Nothing can ever bring their father, their brother back, but this can be a giant step forward in the march toward justice in America," he said. "Let’s also be clear: Such a verdict is also much too rare."
"For so many people it seems like it took a unique and extraordinary convergence of factors: A brave young woman with a smart phone camera. A crowd that was traumatized. Traumatized witnesses. A murder that lasted almost 10 minutes in broad daylight, for everybody in the whole world to see," he went on to say. "Officers standing up and testifying against a fellow officer instead of just closing ranks, which should be commended. A jury that heard the evidence, carried out their civic duty in the midst of an extraordinary moment, under extraordinary pressure."
"For so many it feels like it took all of that for the judicial system to deliver… just basic accountability," he added.
In a statement posted to Twitter, Obama said the jury "did the right thing."
"But true justice requires much more," Obama said. "Michelle and I send our prayers to the Floyd family, and we stand with all those who are committed to guaranteeing every American the full measure of justice that George and so many others have been denied."
Cuomo called the verdict "a powerful statement of accountability," adding that Floyd's family and friends "got well-deserved closure, and all of us who deeply and personally felt his loss gained hope in the possibility of progress."
"But while I'm grateful that the jury returned these verdicts, accountability is not the same as justice," Cuomo added. "It doesn't make an unacceptable situation acceptable, and it doesn't bring Gianna's dad back. But it must fuel our continued march towards equity."
In his own statement, de Blasio said “justice was served.”
“Make no mistake, today’s verdict is not the end. This is the beginning, as we continue to create real reforms in policing and make a safer country for all Americans,” he said. “I urge peace and calm tonight as we begin the work of achieving further progress.”
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea echoed de Blasio's remarks.
"Justice has been served," he said. "NYPD will be out tonight to ensure that peaceful demonstrations have the ability to proceed safely."
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, meanwhile, said Floyd “should be alive today.”
“While today’s verdict provides some measure of justice and accountability, systemic racism is still pervasive in American life,” he said. “We must continue the fight for justice.”
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont issued a statement via a video posted to his Twitter account.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he was “thankful for George Floyd’s family that justice was served."
“America was forever changed by the video of Derek Chauvin killing George Floyd. However, a guilty verdict doesn’t mean the persistent problem of police misconduct is solved,” Schumer said. “We'll keep working for meaningful change.”
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said she felt the verdict "brings some small measure of justice to George Floyd's family," but added that "nothing can ease their pain or return him to them."
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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