As he prepared to lead yet another march through the City of Atlanta, this one will be different for local activist Attorney Gerald Griggs. "This is going to be a celebration" said Griggs, as he snapped a photo of the George Floyd mural on Edgewood Avenue. It is from this location that Griggs will lead those gathered to Centennial Olympic Park Tuesday evening for a celebratory rally. "This will send a message that Atlanta stands in solidarity with Minnesota", said Griggs, "We have cases here. Every city has a George Floyd, and now it's time for us to get justice for those victims as well."
The Atlanta march and rally come less than 2 hours after a jury in Minnesota announced its decision in the trial of Derek Chauvin. Last summer, protests in Atlanta, and other cities, turned violent after the release of a video in-which then-police officer Chauvin was seen holding his knee to the neck of Floyd for more than 9 minutes, until he lost consciousness.
Tuesday Chauvin was found guilty on all counts: Second Degree Unintentional Murder, Third Degree Murder, and Second Degree Manslaughter.
Griggs, who has lead several marches inside, and outside, of Atlanta calling for justice in the wake of violence against black men and women, said "He (Chauvin) showed no remorse and no emotion throughout the entire trial, and now it's time for him to understand that George's life mattered. It mattered to his daughter. It mattered to his family." Griggs is hopeful that Chauvin will receive the maximum sentence of 75 years in prison.
Immediately following the verdict, Fulton County Commissioner Khadijah Abdur-Rahman said, "America finally got it right." But, Abdur-Rahman added, "We can not rest. This was only one family. We've got so many that will never receive justice." She said there's a need for criminal justice reform. "In all of the joy", said Abdur-Rahman, "We must remember not to lose focus, that it has to be that every Black and Brown lives matter across this entire nation."
The Atlanta Hawks said in a statement, "While this verdict can never fully bring solace to the loved ones of George Floyd, it is a start in their healing and that of the entire Black community that continues to grieve his loss and countless others at the hands of senseless brutality." The statement from the Hawks goes on to say that the organization will continue a commitment made last summer, to stand against racism and injustice."We remain committed to being a part of the solution and using our platform to move us toward a more accepting, anti-racist society", said the statement.