NRDC's Statement on the Derek Chauvin Verdict

Today, a Minnesota jury found Derek Chauvin guilty of the murder of George Floyd, the man who cried out for his mother as Chauvin dug his knee into his neck until he couldn’t breathe. It was a clear homicide in broad daylight.

To be clear, this is not cause for celebration. There was nothing the judicial system could have done to undo the gross miscarriage of justice that led to this trial. However, it did enforce consequences. A jury of the defendant’s peers did its job today. That is no small thing.  

At NRDC, we still believe in justice. We believe in a livable future, which means more than just a habitable planet. A livable future is a one in which George Floyd would still be alive. It’s one in which Daunte Wright, Adam Toledo, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor would be alive too, as well as Trayvon Martin, Mike Brown, Tamir Rice, Sandra Bland, and so many others. Bare minimum, it is one in which there are consequences for taking their lives. 

There is no room for anti-Black racism in a livable future.

We send our deepest condolences to the Floyd family and his community. We condemn the racist system that took his life. And we reaffirm our commitment to creating that livable future.