TORONTO -- Canadian politicians, activists and athletes reacted with grief and relief in response to former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin鈥檚 murder conviction in the death of George Floyd.
On Tuesday, Chauvin was convicted of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of Floyd on May 25, 2020. The death sparked international outrage after bystander video revealed Chauvin had his knee pressed on Floyd鈥檚 neck for more than nine minutes.
Chauvin鈥檚 sentencing is scheduled in two months. He could face decades in prison.
鈥淭his is such a heavy day for Black communities,鈥 Rodney Diverlus, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Toronto, told CTV News Channel. 鈥淲e know that a verdict will not bring the justice that we need. This actually does little to change very structural changes that we鈥檙e asking for.鈥
Diverlus said the big change that needs to happen is the defunding of police forces.
鈥淲e鈥檙e losing these Black lives because of anti-Black racists and white supremacists policing,鈥 he said. 鈥淭his is an opportunity for us to be talking about the bold changes and proposals that activists in communities have been pushing for years.鈥
Syrus Marcus Ware, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Canada, said the verdict brings up mixed emotions.
鈥淥n the one hand I鈥檓 hopeful this provides some sense of peace and solace for George Floyd and his family, but to me this is just Day 1, this is just the beginning of our work,鈥 Ware said.
鈥淲e have to continue our push for systemic change so that we make sure that this never happens again.鈥
Sandy Hudson, an organizer with Black Lives Matter and Black Lives Matter Canada, said Tuesday鈥檚 verdict is no reason to celebrate.
鈥淚 just hesitate to call this a victory or to celebrate something like this,鈥 she said. 鈥淭his is a tragedy through and through, from the beginning to the end鈥 and the verdict isn鈥檛 something to be celebrated. We are not out in the streets demanding convictions. We鈥檙e demanding the end to police killing us. I don鈥檛 know if this particular moment is going to change that.鈥
Hudson said this verdict alone is not enough to change policing in the United States and Canada.
鈥淭he only thing that will work is divesting from police,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e have to take away their power at the root.鈥
鈥淗ere in Canada, we have to have that discussion as well.鈥
In a statement, Canadians United Against Hate called Chauvin鈥檚 verdict 鈥渢he beginning of the fight for racial justice.鈥
鈥淭he guilty verdict on all counts is by no means the end of the process by the Black community and other communities of colour to build a more just and equitable society, where an encounter with police is not seen with fear and dread,鈥 said Fareed Khan, founder of Canadians United Against Hate.
鈥淗owever, it is an important small step towards healing the deep, generational traumas experienced by Black people in their encounters with police.鈥
, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the verdict 鈥済ood news.鈥 Headded thatmore work needs to be done here in Canada to combat racism.
鈥It still underlines that there's an awful lot of work to do," he said.
"What we saw over the course of last year with the sudden awareness by everyone of what racialized Canadians and racialized people around the world had known for far too long that systemic discrimination continues. The micro-aggressions, the overt racism, the challenges within our institutions and within our daily lives that exist need to be addressed."
Trudeau added that anger over Floyd鈥檚 death created the momentum needed to create some real change to make societies "fairer and more inclusive for everyone."
"I think this was a real wake-up call for a lot of people a year ago,鈥 he said.
Conservative leader Erin O鈥橳oole said 鈥渏ustice is served.鈥
鈥淩acism has no place in our society and brutality should never be part of wearing a uniform,鈥 he wrote.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh , adding that his 鈥渉eart is with the friends (and) family of George Floyd.鈥
鈥淥ne verdict won't change an entire system, it won't eradicate the systemic racism embedded within our institutions,鈥 he said. 鈥淏ut, in the memory of George Floyd, it is one small step in the right direction.鈥
, the Toronto Blue Jays called Tuesday鈥檚 verdict 鈥渁 watershed moment in holding police brutality to account.鈥
鈥淕eorge Floyd鈥檚 loved ones continue to feel the unimaginable loss of their son, brother, father and friend,鈥 the team wrote. 鈥淭here are countless other families like them, who are forced to live with the trauma of systemic racism, long after the news cycle moves on and the crowds disperse.鈥
鈥淲e will not lose sight of the respect, dignity and humanity that is owed to our most vulnerable communities.鈥
The Hockey Diversity Alliance, a group of Black current and former NHL players that was founded in the wake of Floyd鈥檚 murder, said
鈥淥ur work has just begun,鈥 the alliance continued in their statement. 鈥淲e will continue to push for positive change within our game and society. We will continue to demand accountability in developing policies for diversity and inclusion for all involved in our sport, including fans and the league office.鈥
With files from The Canadian Press and The Associated Press
