SPOKANE, Wash. — In a message sent to the Spokane community following a verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial, local leaders committed to working on reforms that would enhance safety.
A jury found Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on Tuesday of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter charges in the May 25, 2020 death of George Floyd. Chauvin’s conviction marks only the second known time a police officer has been convicted of murder in Minnesota and the first time such a conviction has been won against a white officer who killed a Black man.
Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward, Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl and Spokane City Councilmember Lori Kinnear acknowledged in their statement on Tuesday that many people in the Spokane community and throughout the country "have expressed strong emotions and a call for change over the past several months."
"The conversations shined a light on what can happen when police use-of-force decisions result in a tragic death and the impact that has on trust in law enforcement. It also gave new voice to feelings and emotions among communities of color that have struggled to be heard," the joint statement reads in part.
"As your elected and law enforcement leaders, we recognize the immense trauma and pain this trial and other use-of-force incidents have brought to our community, especially among Black community members and other people of color. Out of that hurt must come change. This has to be an opportunity for law enforcement to work side-by-side with communities of color to make a meaningful difference in the relationship between officers and the community," the statement continues.
The three local leaders also acknowledged that there are "no winners" following the guilty verdict, as Floyd's loved ones are still suffering and many community members remain traumatized.
"We hear that, recognize the anger, and are committed to working together on reforms that will improve equitable outcomes and enhance the safety of our community, particularly for our neighbors of color," the statement reads.
Read the statement in its entirety below:
A jury today in Minneapolis, Minnesota returned a guilty verdict on all three counts. Many in our community and across the country have expressed strong emotions and a call for change over the past several months. The conversations shined a light on what can happen when police use-of-force decisions result in a tragic death and the impact that has on trust in law enforcement. It also gave new voice to feelings and emotions among communities of color that have struggled to be heard.
As your elected and law enforcement leaders, we recognize the immense trauma and pain this trial and other use-of-force incidents have brought to our community, especially among Black community members and other people of color. Out of that hurt must come change. This has to be an opportunity for law enforcement to work side-by-side with communities of color to make a meaningful difference in the relationship between officers and the community.
In Spokane, we have made great strides in how we meet and interact with each other. We have also heard very clearly from our communities of color that we can continue to do better.
There are no winners even with today’s guilty verdict. Mr. Floyd’s loved ones still suffer and our community still feels a sense of trauma that comes with loss. We hear that, recognize the anger, and are committed to working together on reforms that will improve equitable outcomes and enhance the safety of our community, particularly for our neighbors of color.
On this raw day, many will have an understandable emotional response. Please make your voice heard peacefully and respectfully and know that as elected and law enforcement leaders we support your right to do so without putting anyone’s lives or livelihoods at risk.
KREM interviewed Meidl in May 2020 after Floyd's death. Watch the interview below or click here:
Councilwoman Betsy Wilkerson: 'Today is painful for some black people yet bears a sigh of relief'
Spokane City Councilwoman Betsy Wilkerson, who is the only person of color on the city's council, issued a statement about the verdict as well saying in part, "Every day we wake up and worry about the safety of our family and friends at the hands of law enforcement."
Wilkerson's full statement is available to read below:
As a Sister, Mother, Grandparent, Aunt, and Friend- today is painful for some black people yet bears a sigh of relief. Every day we wake up and worry about the safety of our family and friends at the hands of law enforcement. The ones who are supposed to “protect and serve”, we beg you to stop killing us. Intentionally or unintentionally, the deaths of unarmed black and brown people by the hands of officers is grossly out of proportion and it must stop.
As we go forward in our country and in Spokane, let us continue to fight for justice, protest peacefully, vote, volunteer, and do whatever we can to maintain the integrity of our legal system and law enforcement. There is still so much work to be done. While today was a major step in accountability, we still have a long journey to justice and being fully united citizens of America.
I hope the guilty verdict brings the comfort of justice to the family of George Floyd, our community, and the world. Rest in Peace to our brother George Floyd we will remember your name and the disadvantaged loss of your life.
Council President Breann Beggs: 'People of color in our community and across the nation are still afraid'
Spokane City Council President Breann Beggs issued a statement after the verdict saying in part, "Many have celebrated this outcome as justice, but so many other families have failed to find justice in our court system under similar circumstances."
Beggs' full statement is available to read below:
A Hennepin County Jury found former Officer Derek Chauvin guilty of all the murder charges leveled against him in connection with his killing of George Floyd. Many have celebrated this outcome as justice, but so many other families have failed to find justice in our court system under similar circumstances. People of color in our community and across the nation are still afraid that they will unjustly be assaulted or killed by law enforcement for no good reason. I hope that this conviction after the full due process will be at least a small step towards broader community reconciliation.
Spokane community members and their police officers have been walking down the road of attempted reconciliation since the death of Otto Zehm was similarly resolved by a jury verdict against an officer in 2011. Despite good intentions by many, this road of reconciliation has been rocky. Dozens of reforms have been implemented, but there is a tremendous amount of more work to be accomplished until our police are perceived as peace officers by all they serve.
In my opinion, we are still closer to the beginning of the community healing process than the end. But we are farther ahead than we were last year, and together we can move even farther ahead in the coming weeks and months. The progress to date is cold comfort for those who are still living in fear or who have lost loved ones. I commit to keep working to reconcile our entire community and to create a new public safety culture until everyone can fully participate in our community without fear. We all belong in Spokane, and our justice system and its first responders should reflect that principle in every respect.
City council candidate reacts to verdict
City council candidate and childcare center owner Luc Jasmine spoke with KREM 2's Amanda Roley about the verdict.
"You know, this is such a relief," Jasmine said. "You know, and the amount of cheers, that I was those hearing I mean, I'm in the middle of Spokane and on Division, you could hear, cars honking their horns, people that, you know, I never thought would be watching this or want this type of justice, and to me it just shows just how this isn't just a race thing. To me, it just shows me how much I do matter to the people here in Spokane, at least I mean, you know I still could hear outside just celebrating."
He said he appreciates the job that police officers do for the community and he's glad he's seen law enforcement speak out against Chauvin's actions.
"I hope it means for the Spokane community is that we got to look at preventative measures here, right, and we got to work with our police department, and I think it puts more emphasis on the ombudsman, and making sure that there is independent oversight," he said. "I want to see us get back to really having community with law enforcement. I want to place where if I'm driving, I don't have anxiety about who's behind me, that I know the police officer that's behind me I say, 'Oh, that's, that's Craig behind me' and that's, that's really what I'm hoping we can get to what our city just really learning, like I said from other places, and really making sure that none of that stuff is happening here because we have such a tight community that strives to be the best that it can be."
Gov. Inslee calls Floyd's death 'a trauma' for many
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee also released a statement following the verdict, calling Floyd's death "a trauma" for his family, children, bystanders and the nation. Inslee added that "there is still much work to do" and the verdict is "one step on a long journey we are just beginning."
Inslee's full statement is available to read below:
This was more than the death of one person. It was a trauma for George Floyd’s family, his children, the bystanders and indeed the entire nation. Weary families in so many communities, traumatized from images of brutality against Black and Brown and feeling no power to stop it, can take heart today that justice was served in this instance. Yet, there is still much work to do. This is one step on a long journey we are just beginning.
Today is a day for all to recommit themselves to a more perfect union, in their communities and in our nation. Let this be the beginning of progress rather than the end of one trial. Today’s sense of relief for some is fleeting. They know more must be done to prevent this from happening again and again. Too many live with this uncertainty. We must end systemic racism.
In Washington, we are reforming independent investigations into police use of force; clarifying the requirements for tactics; increasing oversight and accountability for law enforcement officer conduct; and establishing better standards for permissible uses of force.”
But ending systemic racism goes beyond our justice system.
Our communities will not be at peace until everyone feels secure to do the most basic things. I’m talking about the right to vote. Or the right to get in the car and drive anywhere safely without fear of being killed. To walk down any street in America or go shopping at the department store without being selectively followed. To work regardless of what your hair or skin color looks like. To rent or buy a house in the neighborhood of your choice, or to get an insurance policy without being asked for a credit score. These ordinary activities must be available to all.
We must remain proactive – from those of us in elected office to those providing services in our agencies – to turn the tide of injustice. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said 'the moral arc of the universe' bends toward justice, and it takes all of us to usher it into existence.
Senator Murray vows to keep fight for 'justice and equality'
"George Floyd should be with us today. And so should too many other Black men, women, and children," Senator Patty Murray (D-Washington) wrote on Twitter following the verdict. We need justice in every single trial and an America where justice and equality are a reality for all of us. That's what I'll keep fighting for."
KARE 11 staff members contributed to this report.