Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who on May 25, 2020, knelt for more than nine minutes on the neck and torso of George Floyd, causing his death, was found guilty of second-degree manslaughter, second-degree unintentional murder and third-degree murder on Tuesday.
Floyd’s death and the manner in which he was killed sparked protests over police brutality and racial injustice last year that included NBA players, teams and the league taking a stand.
In the wake of Chauvin’s conviction on all three counts, multiple Jazz players shared their feelings on social media, and new Jazz owner Ryan Smith made a brief statement on Twitter.
“My thoughts are with George Floyd’s family following his tragic murder and today’s verdict,” Smith said in a tweet. “We must all actively work toward meaningful, systemic change.”
Later the Utah Jazz released the following statement:
“Our hearts are with the George Floyd family today. His murder — among too many examples of senseless killings, systemic racism and injustice — has only heightened the urgency to peacefully and emphatically work towards creating sustainable and meaningful change. The work ahead of us remains clear, our resolve is strong, and our actions must be even stronger.”
The Jazz were one among many teams that released statements regarding the murder of Floyd and Chauvin’s verdict. The NBA and WNBA were among the leagues to also release statements.
“George Floyd’s murder was a flash point for how we look at race and justice in our country, and we are pleased that justice appears to have been served,” read a joint statement from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Michele Roberts, executive director of the National Basketball Players Association. “But we also recognize that there is much work to be done and the National Basketball Association and the National Basketball Players Association, together with our newly-formed Social Justice Coalition, will redouble our efforts to advocate for meaningful change in the areas of criminal justice and policing.”