Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been sentenced to serve 22 ½ years in prison for the death of George Floyd. Some in Minnesota and across the nation feel the sentencing was not harsh enough.
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Prior to the sentencing, groups gathered outside the Hennepin County Courthouse to call for Cahill to give the maximum sentence.
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The recommended sentencing in Minnesota for second-degree unintentional murder is 12 ½ years. Chauvin received a sentence 10 years higher than what is recommended.
Some still feel that judge Cahill was too lenient in his sentencing of the man who killed Floyd over a year ago. Many still feel the judicial system is broken and that justice would not have come for Floyd if Darnella Frazier had not recorded the incident.
New York Times best-selling author Fredrick Joseph took to Twitter calling attention to those who have been given unfair sentences for non-violent crimes, comparing them to Chauvin’s sentence.
The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations released a statement saying that it is disappointed at the length of the sentence.
“Today’s disappointing sentence is a reminder that our justice system still treats officers differently. This sentence also signals to those who torture and kill a human being for nine minutes and twenty-nine seconds will receive a soft sentence rather than a sentence that reflects the heinousness of the crime," Jaylani Hussein, the CAIR-MN Executive Director, said.
Hussein went on to say that justice was once again denied and that this is a sad day in the world.
After the sentencing, Rev. Al Sharpton shared that while this is the longest sentence given to an officer, this is not justice. Justice would be Floyd being alive today, Sharpton said.
Minnesota Attorney Keith Ellison also spoke after the sentencing about the need for lawmakers to continue to push legislation and policing reform.
"At this historic moment, there is so much legislation around the country ... that is still waiting to be passed," Ellison said. "If these bills were passed, they would make the deaths at the hands of law enforcement officers less likely."
Ellison said that if legislation is passed it will keep officers and citizens safe while helping the nation heal.
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Gov. Tim Walz took to Twitter sharing his thoughts on the sentencing.
Chauvin was taken into custody immediately after being sentenced. The trial for the other three officers who were present when Floyd died will be held sometime later this year.