Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was on Tuesday convicted of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. In the hours after the verdict was announced, a number of celebrities took to social media to react to the news and pay tribute to Floyd, who died after Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes.
A number of actors, politicians, artists, academics and musicians have spoken out about the verdict, including Barack Obama, Viola Davis and Amanda Gorman.
"A reminder that victory would be George Floyd being alive. Every day Black Americans worry if they will be next is another day without justice," wrote poet Gorman on Twitter.
Blackish actress Yara Shahidi shared a photo of Floyd's daughter, Gianna Floyd, holding a photo of herself with her late father.
Shahidi captioned the photo: "This is a moment of accountability, still we pursue justice as nothing will make up for the loss of light & life, except the reimagination and abolition of the systems which target us #RestInPower #GeorgeFloyd."
Former president Barack Obama issued a statement with Michelle Obama saying: "Today, a jury in Minneapolis did the right thing ... But if we're being honest with ourselves, we know that true justice is about much more than a single verdict in a single trial."
American artist Nikkolas Smith posted a portrait of Floyd on Instagram, which is being widely shared on the platform.
Smith also shared his thoughts in the caption: "While there can never be a perfect level of justice given in response to Big Floyd's life being taken, I hope his family finds some form of peace in this verdict."
Actress Whoopi Goldberg wrote that "no one wins ... George Floyd is still gone [but] finally someone was responsible."
Research professor Brene Brown wrote: "We still have so far to go. I am grateful for this verdict and devastated that George Floyd is not here today."
Captain America star Chris Evans simply wrote: "Justice. Sending love to George Floyd's family and friends."
Hair Love filmmaker Matthew A Cherry said of Floyd: "We remember your name."
Scandal star Kerry Washington wrote: "This fight for justice is not over. We have a lot of work to do. There is more fight ahead of us. But right now please take care of yourself. And let's take care of each other."
Bernice King, the youngest child of Martin Luther King Jr, wrote: "The moral arc of the universe is long, but today it bent toward justice thanks to the millions of people under the banner of #BlackLivesMatter standing up, speaking up and not letting up for humanity."
Meena Harris, the author and lawyer niece of Vice President Kamala Harris wrote: "Rest in power, George Floyd."
Actress Viola Davis shared Nikkolas Smith's portrait of Floyd and wrote: "You and your family have been vindicated."
Taking to Twitter, singer Ciara said she was "in tears", and added of Floyd: "May your legacy live on forever."
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Guilty on all counts: Derek Chauvin convicted in George Floyd's death
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