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The Situation Room
Derek Chauvin Found Guilty On All Three Charges; Floyd Family, Civil Rights Leaders React To Chauvin Guilty Verdict. Aired 6-7p ET
Aired April 20, 2021 - 18:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: We will be standing by for live coverage of what they have to say.
[18:00:04]
And we also -- we just got a statement in from the former President Barack Obama. I think we can put it up on the screen, if we have it. There it is.
This is the former President Barack Obama: "Today, a jury did the right thing, but true justice requires much more. Michelle and I send our prayers to the Floyd family, and we stand with all those who are committed to guaranteeing every American the full measure of justice that George and so many others have been denied."
That statement from the former president of the United States, Barack Obama.
Ben Crump, the lead attorney for the Floyd family, has also put out a statement, saying that the vice president, Kamala Harris, has called the Floyd family. I think we have a clip. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello? Hello?
(CROSSTALK)
BENJAMIN CRUMP, ATTORNEY FOR FAMILY OF GEORGE FLOYD: She said, how is Gianna doing?
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Feeling better now. Nothing is going to make it all better, but at least, God, now there's some justice.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right.
JOE BIDEN: And you know what? I think of Gianna's comment, "My dad is going to change the world." He's going to start to change it now.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's right.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Amen. JOE BIDEN: Start to change it now.
(CROSSTALK)
JOE BIDEN: So, you have been incredible. You're an incredible family.
I wish I were there just to put my arms around you. I'm standing here with Cedric. We have been talking. And we're watching every second of this, and the vice president, all of us.
And I'm just -- I -- we're all so relieved, not just the one verdict, but all three, guilty on all three counts.
And it's really important. I'm anxious to see you guys. I really am. And we're going to let a lot more done. We're going to give police -- we're going to do a lot. We're going to stay at it until we get it done.
CRUMP: Hopefully, this is the momentum for the George Floyd Justice in Policing act to get passed to have you sign.
JOE BIDEN: You got it, pal, that and a lot more, not just that, a lot more.
CRUMP: Thank you, Mr. President.
JOE BIDEN: Well, this is going to be our first shot at dealing with genuine systemic racism.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's right.
JOE BIDEN: Look, there's two people here who feel as strongly as I do.
The vice president, she wants to say something.
CRUMP: OK.
KAMALA HARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm just so thankful to the entire family.
Your courage, your commitment, your strength has been a strength...
(CROSSTALK)
HARRIS: And this is a day of justice in America.
And your family have been...
(CROSSTALK)
HARRIS: ... real leaders at this moment, where we needed you.
And in George's name and memory, we are going to make sure his legacy is intact and that history will look back at this moment and know that it is an inflection moment. You have had to sacrifice so much. Your family did too. But we really do believe that, with your leadership and the president
that we have in the White House, that we're going to make something good come out of this tragedy, OK?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. Thank you.
(CROSSTALK)
CRUMP: Thank you, Madam Vice President.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you, Madam Vice President.
JOE BIDEN: And you better all get ready, because when we do it, we're going to put you on Air Force One and get you here.
(LAUGHTER)
CRUMP: We're going to hold you to that, President Biden.
(LAUGHTER)
JOE BIDEN: I guarantee it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Mr. President.
The one I'm most concerned about is Gianna.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's OK.
(CROSSTALK)
JOE BIDEN: My wife Jill is with me too.
CRUMP: Thank you.
JILL BIDEN: How are you all?
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.
(CROSSTALK)
JILL BIDEN: We're thinking about you.
(CROSSTALK)
JILL BIDEN: We're watching every minute of it.
So, it had a good ending, but -- it had a positive ending. Things are...
(CROSSTALK)
JOE BIDEN: Nothing is worth it, but it's -- like I said, I keep thinking of her words: "Daddy is going to change the world." CRUMP: Going to change the world.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank God.
JOE BIDEN: Well, we got a shot to...
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's right. That's right.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Big changes.
BIDEN: You tell her what I said. Remind her. When she's president. she...
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She's coming to see you, Mr. President.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. All right.
CRUMP: Thank you, Mr. President. God bless you.
BIDEN: Oh, God bless you all.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you, Mr. President.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: All right, so there you have it.
These are live pictures now coming in from Ben Crump and the other representatives of the Floyd family. You see them there. We just heard from the president, the vice president and the first lady.
They called Ben Crump to express their relief and their pleasure at these guilty verdicts. Let's listen in.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Say his name!
UNIDENTIFIED MALES AND FEMALES: George Floyd!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Say his name!
UNIDENTIFIED MALES AND FEMALES: George Floyd!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Say his name!
UNIDENTIFIED MALES AND FEMALES: George Floyd!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Say his name!
UNIDENTIFIED MALES AND FEMALES: George Floyd!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Say his name!
UNIDENTIFIED MALES AND FEMALES: George Floyd!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Say his name!
UNIDENTIFIED MALES AND FEMALES: George Floyd!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Say his name!
UNIDENTIFIED MALES AND FEMALES: George Floyd!
[18:05:00]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Say his name!
UNIDENTIFIED MALES AND FEMALES: George Floyd!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Say his name!
UNIDENTIFIED MALES AND FEMALES: George Floyd!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Say his name!
UNIDENTIFIED MALES AND FEMALES: George Floyd!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Say his name!
UNIDENTIFIED MALES AND FEMALES: George Floyd!
REV. AL SHARPTON, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST: Before we say anything, we're going to have a prayer.
When we first came to Minneapolis, and went to the site, when Ben Crump called, we remembered how Eric Garner said "I can't breathe" 11 times. His mother came with us to the site. The family came in, and this family has stood together for the last 11 months, watching this video go over and over and over again.
This family stood with pain, suffering, and not knowing what the future held, because so many families went and got nothing. They thanked God when they got the indictment, which would not have happened had not the attorney general, Keith Ellison, took this case.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
(APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
SHARPTON: And Keith Ellison fought and put together a team that made this possible. And this is the first time in the history of this state that a white police officer has been convicted, lest known convicted of a murder.
This is the first time in a long array of fights that we have seen three counts, guilty on all three. We don't find pleasure in this.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
SHARPTON: We don't celebrate a man going to jail. We would have rather George be alive.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Amen.
SHARPTON: But we celebrate that we, because young people, white and black, some castigated, many that are here tonight, marched and kept marching and kept going, many of them looked down on, but they kept marching and wouldn't let this die.
And this is an assurance to them that, if we don't give up, that we can win some rounds, but the war and the fight is not over.
Just two days from now, we are going to have to deal with the funeral of Daunte Wright in this same county, the same area. We still have cases to fight.
But this gives us the energy to fight on. And we are determined that we're going to fight until we make federal law. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act must be law.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
(APPLAUSE)
SHARPTON: We want to thank all that were involved, especially the attorney general and the governor and others. We want to thank President Biden, who the first time he came out of his house during the campaign, he flew to Houston and met with the family and attorney Crump and I.
And he sat there. And I will never forget. He said to George's daughter that: "I heard you say your father is going to change the world."
Well, we can now tell George's daughter she was right. Her father has begun the changing of the world for real.
But before we do anything, we first want to pray and thank God, because somehow God made a way. He had mercy. We believe in a God that can even get through the cracks in a jury room and bring conscience and bring truth.
And that jury, we want to thank them for letting God give them the strength. Wherever they are tonight, we want them to know we broke down in tears when we heard the verdict. We had to hold each other and hug and tears, because, too many nights, we have cried, many of us for decades, spent nights in jail.
But, today, we can wipe our tears away and fight on for another day. There's sunlight. We're going to keep going until we bring it for the Eric Garners and the Breonna Taylors, whose boyfriend is here tonight.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kenny Walker.
SHARPTON: Kenny Walker.
(APPLAUSE)
SHARPTON: Sean Bell, so many that did not get this night, this night is for them.
Let us pray. Let's lock arms and pray, like we kinfolks.
Where -- come on, Brandon. Where's Philonise?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right here.
[18:10:00]
SHARPTON: Yes, come on. You and Rodney, come up front.
I know you's hiding now.
(LAUGHTER)
SHARPTON: Brother Chris, get next to the attorney general there. Let's pray.
Dear God, we thank you for giving us the strength to stand together. Sometimes, we would question each other. Sometimes, we say this is just going to be a waste of time. But, somehow, you touch us in the midnight hours and teach us to hold on, and that, if we would be faithful over a few things, you would give us the victory over many.
We thank you because we know it was not any doing of ours, but your loving kindness and your tender mercy that made tonight possible. Bless those that worked, that made this prosecution something they couldn't deny.
Bless those policemen that got on the stand and testified against another policeman. Bless the jury that listened to the evidence and didn't listen to those that may criticize them for doing this.
Bless the prosecutor, Keith Ellison, and his staff that did their job...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, lord. Yes, lord.
SHARPTON: ... even though they didn't know what the outcome would be.
Bless Ben Crump in a special way that worked tirelessly, that jumped on planes and left his family to make sure that justice would rain down.
Thank you for all of the civil and human rights leaders that stood up. And we thank you for the nameless grandmas and grandpas that would get on their knees and ask you to give us a victory this time.
And, Lord, as we give you the thanks and give you the praise, let George know that his name is going down in history. They may have put their knee on his neck, but he will now be a figure that we will take the knees off our necks now.
And we give you the praise. Thank you. And, God, we give you the glory. These blessings, we ask in your name. Amen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Amen.
CRUMP: Amen.
(APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We couldn't have did it without you.
SHARPTON: Let me say that I want to bring on now a man who has symbolized the fight for justice.
He didn't seek the role, but he rose to the occasion. America, for many years, didn't have someone to stand for us. The last four years, we didn't have an attorney general's office that would even hear our cry.
But we had been raised to believe that God always has a ram in the bush.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
SHARPTON: And God has a way of taking the most humble of people and raising them as -- up.
We had an attorney general in black America that has represented these cases with the acumen and skill of one that was raised in the South, but came to claim this nation in a new direction.
I bring you the attorney general for black America, Ben Crump.
(APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love him.
CRUMP: Thank you, Reverend Al Sharpton, not only for your mentorship, not only for being a great civil rights leader, but for being a moral authority, especially making sure, no matter what happened, that we always maintained the moral high ground, knowing that we were on the right side of history, as we fought for justice for George Perry Floyd Jr.
Say his name.
UNIDENTIFIED MALES AND FEMALE: George Floyd!
CRUMP: I am but a member of a great team of very talented attorneys.
And I'm going to acknowledge them. Yes.
(LAUGHTER) CRUMP: We got the Omegas and the Kappas, Reverend Jackson and the
Alphas in here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's right.
CRUMP: I want to acknowledge this great group of lawyers and then the family members.
Two or three of the lawyers will address you. And then, at that time, we will hear from the family members before we take any of your questions.
I want to acknowledge a great lawyer from Chicago, Illinois, one of the best I have ever had the chance to work with, attorney Tony Romanucci.
(APPLAUSE)
CRUMP: I want to recognize my partner on the front line in this case, one of the best lawyers at (INAUDIBLE). He hails from Atlanta, Georgia, attorney Chris Stewart.
[18:15:05]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
(APPLAUSE)
CRUMP: His law partner, attorney Justin Miller, attorney Madeleine Simmons, great Minnesota lawyers, attorney Jeff Storms.
Raise your hand, Jeff.
(APPLAUSE)
CRUMP: Attorney Michelle Gilboe.
And who else we got here? Anybody else?
(LAUGHTER)
CRUMP: We have attorney Scott Masterson, who's not present, attorney Bhavani.
I said Michelle. We got Michelle.
Hi.
And just a great group of lawyers.
And I want to let you know who we are present here with the family here in Minneapolis for this historic day.
We have George Floyd's brothers. We have Philonise Floyd. We have Rodney Floyd. We have Brandon Williams, who is George Floyd's nephew, but was more like a son to him. They call him Woo (ph) back in the Third Ward.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Woo, Woo, Woo, Woo, Woo.
(LAUGHTER)
CRUMP: We have Keeta Floyd, Philonise' wife.
We have -- oh, where Terrence at? Terrence -- New York, where you at?
(LAUGHTER)
CRUMP: We got Terrence Floyd, his sisters, who are not with us, but we should absolutely acknowledge Bridgett Floyd, who hails from North Carolina, his sisters LaTonya and Jaja (ph), who hail from Houston, Texas.
We have his cousins, Shareeduh McGee, Tedra McGee, and Tera Brown.
And we have the mother of his daughter, Gianna Floyd.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
CRUMP: We have Roxie Washington. And we have Gianna.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
CRUMP: And so I will make some brief remarks. And then we're going to have attorney Stewart.
Oh.
Angela, cousin Paris, and uncle Selwyn. Vince. All right. Any more Floyd family? I know it's a big crew.
(LAUGHTER)
CRUMP: A.D., A.D., the man he came to Minneapolis with.
(CROSSTALK)
CRUMP: Anna Dero (ph).
So, I will make some brief remarks, and then we're going to have attorney Stewart and attorney Romanucci make some brief remarks. And then we're going to hear from his family.
And we're going to try to leave here today knowing that America is a better country.
America, let's pause for a moment to proclaim this historical moment not just for the legacy of George Floyd, but for the legacy of America, the legacy of trying to make America for all Americans, so that George Floyd's victory and America's quest for equal justice under the law would be intertwined.
America, let's frame this moment as a moment where we finally are getting close to living up to our Declaration of Independence, that we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equally, that they're endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, that amongst them are life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Well, America, that means all of us. That means black people. That means Hispanic people. That means Native people. That means Asian people. That means all of us, America.
We frame this moment for all of us, not just for George Floyd. This is a victory for those who champion humanity over inhumanity, those who champion justice over injustice, those who champion morals over immorality.
America, let's lean into this moment. And let's make sure, Reverend Al, that this moment will be documented for our children yet unborn, as they continue on the journey to justice, knowing that the blood of George Floyd will give them a trail to find a way to a better America, a more just America, a more just America, where Breonna Taylor gets an opportunity to sleep in peace at night without the police busting in her front door.
[18:20:35]
A more just America, where Ahmaud Arbery gets to run free and not be lynched for jogging while black. A more just America, where Jacob Blake and Anthony McClain and Walter Scott and Laquan McDonald and all these other black men, Terence Crutcher, who was shot in the back while running away, like Daunte Wright was just a week ago, because, for some reason, black men running away from the police is more dangerous than young white men who commit mass murders and walk towards the police with an assault weapon, Reverend Bryant (ph), like Kyle Rittenhouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
America, let this be the precedent.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
CRUMP: Let this be the precedent where we live up to the high ideals and the promises when we say liberty and justice for all.
Those sun-kissed children are included in all, those children who overcame slavery, the Middle Passage, the Dred Scott decision, Plessy vs. Ferguson, Crow, and his much smarter, wiser son Jim Crow Jr. Esquire.
Let this be the precedence where we overcome systemic racism and oppression and that we are a better people, and we will leave our children a better world, a better world for us all.
At this time, we will hear from a great lawyer, because nobody does this alone. It's always a team effort. And we have the lawyers, the preachers, the civil rights leaders, the education leaders, the activists.
Let's give a big round of applause for the activists. (APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, that's right.
CRUMP: The people who stayed in the streets.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's right.
CRUMP: The people who came nationally, but, more importantly, the people who were here locally, who were standing up for George Floyd on 38th and Chicago Avenue day in and day out, certainly the people who wouldn't go home, wouldn't stay quiet.
(APPLAUSE)
CRUMP: Reverend Jackson, the people who followed your example.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't forget about (OFF-MIKE).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Donald Williams.
CRUMP: Donald Williams. Donald is supposed to be here.
(APPLAUSE)
(CROSSTALK)
CRUMP: Donald.
(APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes!
CRUMP: So we love you, Donald.
Without further ado, my brother attorney Chris Stewart.
(APPLAUSE)
CRUMP: And, Tony, you coming up next.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... right here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We all right.
L. CHRIS STEWART, ATTORNEY FOR FAMILY OF GEORGE FLOYD: The first...
(LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK) CRUMP: ... full effect.
(LAUGHTER)
STEWART: The first thing that happened when we heard the verdict is that we all teared up and embraced.
So, don't confuse these tears, thinking that they are sorrow, because those were the tears that happen to African-Americans when they're pulled over constantly on the side of the road and know they can't get help.
Those are the tears of the victims that we have seen time and time again be shot in the back, choked over loose cigarettes or killed for no reason, and justice never comes.
Those are the tears that someone will weep tomorrow when they are taken advantage of in an interaction with law enforcement.
But, today, the tears are pure joy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
STEWART: Pure joy and pure shock, because days like this don't happen.
The whole world should not have to rally to get justice for one man, but that's what happened.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Amen.
STEWART: This wasn't a city case. This wasn't one family's case. This was the entire world's case.
[18:25:04]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
STEWART: And justice finally came.
But it shouldn't have to be so hard to attain this level of justice in cases like this, when we can see with our own eyes the only difference is the color of his skin.
And that's the change we all want. That's not a change that is outrageous. Yes, law enforcement have a dangerous job. They have to carry a spear and a sword and a shield.
But all too often, African-Americans only get the spear or the sword. We need more of the shield.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
STEWART: Because this is not the case of every officer. My life was saved by two law enforcement officers years ago. So, I will never throw every cop under the bus, but we will put more
cops in jail when you kill someone for no reason just because they're black.
And we can find a unifying purpose between law enforcement and the African-American community by changes, starting with the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a beautifully written bill that will help protect the community and solve policing.
And the main question is, will we let politics divide us? Because that's what happens. Republican or Democrat, you're going to stick to your side.
Unify, as Ben has been saying, as Rev has been saying, and get this bill passed, and save people, so that you don't have to board up your own cities for situations like this.
(APPLAUSE)
STEWART: And, if not, we will see you next time when it's time to vote.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Amen.
STEWART: You have seen what's happened across this country.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Say it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Say it.
STEWART: And we shouldn't have to be so happy when we finally get one.
But we are, in celebration for Gianna, for Roxie, who has stood strong this entire time, for the brothers and sisters, for the activists, like Tomika (ph) and everyone out here, for this entire group.
(APPLAUSE)
STEWART: And it wouldn't have happened without every single one of you all, white or black, people out there praying for this family, getting love and support.
And we love all of you. Let this be a changing point in America for policing in a positive way. And let's unify.
Thank you, my brother.
CRUMP: Love you, man.
(APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love you.
CRUMP: Attorney Tony Romanucci from Chicago, Illinois.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) ANTONIO ROMANUCCI, ATTORNEY FOR FAMILY OF GEORGE FLOYD: Good afternoon, everybody. As Ben said, my name is Tony Romanucci.
I'm smiling here today not for myself, but really for the entire country and for the world that's watching. I know that, on behalf of the family and for everyone who's here today, that we stand here before you feeling a tremendous amount of joy and eternal hope.
For me, 36 years ago, I was a young public defender in Cook County.
Reverend Jackson, I know you know that place very well.
And that's where I was introduced to the marginalization of black and brown people. And, for now, this is the 36th year I have seen it come through. I really feel that this country has turned a corner.
But I'm going to tell you, it was a tough quarter to turn. And it couldn't have been done, and I'm going to reach out to you all the press for spreading the message, for the strength and wisdom of Ben Crump, to you, Reverend Al Sharpton, Reverend Jackson, the attorneys, Chris, Justin, Madeleine, Jeff, Michelle, Bhavani, Nicolette, Ian (ph), all the teams in all the cities in this country.
The attorney general and their magnificent prosecution team, they did it, right?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, they did.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They did.
ROMANUCCI: They tied up every loose -- they tied up every loose thread for that jury. They let them follow it right through.
They showed them how to prosecute and how to convict.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, they did.
ROMANUCCI: And we are so grateful.
But make no mistake. We are not done. The George Floyd Policing and Reform Act must pass the Senate.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Amen.
ROMANUCCI: We now know that, today, police can and will be held accountable for needless death.
This death never should have happened. George should have been alive somewhere with his daughter, Gianna, playing on a playground.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Amen.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's right.
ROMANUCCI: From now on, everyone's on notice that police will be held accountable. But we will be held accountable too. This whole country should be held accountable, but police especially.
I am so thankful to all of you. I am hopeful for a greater America, for a great, great vote of confidence.
I will tell you that Speaker Pelosi called us not once today, but twice. Our speaker is a great leader. She is somebody that wants to see this through. We have a great president who wants to see this through.
[18:30:02]
We have one little hiccup in between. Let's get this passed to Senate. Let's get justice in America once and for all and forever, one last comment.
I met a young lady yesterday. Her name was LaMaya (ph). She said one thing to me that I promised her that I would repeat today. LaMaya (ph) is not part of the Floyd family but she is part of the Wright family. And she said one thing and I promised her I would say it today. We are all God's children. Thank you, LaMaya (ph).
ATTY. BENJAMIN CRUMP, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Thank you, Tony. And I know Speaker Pelosi called. We need to acknowledge when we were over at the courthouse as we were leaving, I got one of those calls. And we stopped everything.
And it was Chris and Philones and Roxy, all of us, Justin, as we're walking up. We stopped midsentence because President Biden called to talk about what a moment this was for America and how we have to use this moment to build on. So we want to acknowledge President Biden acknowledging that we are all a better America today. Isn't that what he said? Okay. Okay.
And we got so many good staff people to thank. Jim McGovern, Michelle, Edna, Roma, all these people who've been working, you know, in the venue with us, supporting our lawyers, Silky, everybody. But, briefly, we want to have -- we can't be in Minneapolis and not have a Representative, whether Jeff and Michelle want to come up and say a word. Our great Minnesota co-Counselor Jeff Storms, Michelle --
JEFF STORMS, FLOYD FAMILY ATTORNEY: I just briefly want to say I love this city, I love this state and no longer can we be known for these massively infamous failures in civil rights. We owe our children and our community more from this moment further, from this conviction now, we have to be leaders in this country on civil rights, and everyone standing up here who work tirelessly until that happens.
And I challenge everybody else in Minnesota to make that same effort. Thank you.
CRUMP: Okay, thank you, Jeff. Can we (INAUDIBLE) try again. Everybody, take a step back. Let's try to make the podium -- let's try to make the podium -- just everybody take a step back. We're going to have the family. We're going to have the family come up. Okay. We're going to have the family come and try to greet you all. You got to back up too. The camera's trying to get the podium, yes,
So, right now we're going to bring up a man who, when I first met him, Tony, I remember all he could do was cry, because he was heartbroken. He was heartbroken because, remember, so many times, we -- it's a case to us, Tamika (ph), it's a cause.
My son is a hashtag, but to them, this was their flesh and blood. They slept in the bed with George. I mean, the stories that they tell, you know that this was a close family. He tells those stories, Reverend Al, how he used to pea on pee George.
But, you all, he has become so dignified and articulate in expressing not just the fight for justice for his family, not just the fight for justice for black America, but he really has become so articulate in saying we have to fight for all Americans, Mr. Philones Floyd.
[18:35:00]
PHILONES FLOYD, GEORGE FLOYD BROTHER: My nephew, he is calling me Baby Al. Jessie calling me Steve Harvey. But, man, I feel relieved today that I finally have the opportunity for hopefully getting some sleep. A lot of days that I prayed and I hoped and I was speaking everything into existence. I said, I have faith that he will be convicted.
It's been a long journey. And it's been less than a year. And the person that comes to my mind is 1955. And to me, he was the first George Floyd. That was Emmett Till.
Wow. I did -- I was on CNN with Deborah Watts, and she just brought him back to life. People forgot about him, but he was the first George Floyd. But today, you have the cameras all around the world to see and show what happened to my brother. It was a motion picture, the world has seen his life being extinguished. And I could do nothing but watch, especially in that courtroom over and over and over again as my brother was murdered.
Times, they're getting harder every day. Ten miles away from here, Mr. Wright, Daunte Wright, he should still be here. We ought to always understand that we have to march. We will have to do this for life. We have to protest, because it seems like this is a never ending cycle.
Reverend Al always told me, we got to keep fighting. I'm going to put up a fight every day, because I'm not just fighting for George anymore, I'm fighting for everybody around this world.
I get calls. I get DMs, people from Brazil, from Ghana, from Germany, everybody, London, Italy, they're all saying the same thing. We won't be able to breathe until you're able to breathe. Today, we are able to breathe again.
Ms. Garner, I told you we would get justice. And still we're going to fight for you too. We're going to fight for everybody. Thank you all so much for just giving us this time, because we're here and we're not going anywhere.
And I want to thank all the protesters, all the attorneys who stepped up, all the activists who stepped up and many who think they're not activists but advocates, thank you all, Because justice for George means freedom for all.
CRUMP: Terrence Floyd, we will have Terrence Floyd, George's brother from New York City. Reverend Floyd.
TERRENCE FLOYD, GEORGE FLOYD BROTHER: I'm not going to preach today, man.
CRUMP: You're not going to preach today?
T. FLOYD: I'm not going to preach. Oh man, so many emotions right now, but I'm very thankful and grateful, grateful for the people in this world, for the support, the prayers, the love that was shown, whether you sent it by social media or whether you sent it, emails or however. We just appreciate the love. I appreciate the team, the Crump law team. I call him unc. I call him unc. We built a bond and relationship through this whole journey. I appreciate him.
He would call me. I'm all the way in New York. He'd call me and check up on me and ask if I'm all right, because I'm the only one up there. Everybody else is down south. But he never thought it robbery to check up on me and I'm grateful for that.
I'm grateful for Reverend Sharpton. He's been fighting a long time, long time.
[18:40:00]
Man, Reverend Jesse Jackson, it's a lot of history here. History is here. This is monumental.
Reverend Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, they lived to see this. Their fight wasn't in vain. It just didn't happen when they did it, but it happened now. And they're here to see it and be proud of it.
It goes back to when he did that prayer service. My family is a family that will not back down from prayer. And I believe because of prayer, we got the verdict we wanted. We got on our knees. Some of us stood up, but we asked the right person, we asked the right one. We said, God, we need justice, we need it now. And he answered.
Oh, man, I'm just grateful. I'm grateful that my grandmother, my mother, my aunt, they got to see this history made. I'm even grateful -- my brother's not here, and I'm grateful and I'm proud of him. I will salute him at every -- every day of my life, I will salute him, because he showed me how to be strong. He showed me how to be respectful. He showed me how to speak my mind. I'm going to miss him, but now I know he's in history. What a day to be a Floyd, man.
Thank you.
CRUMP: Thank you, Terrence. Now we will hear from George's baby brother, Rodney Floyd.
RODNEY FLOYD, GEORGE FLOYD BROTHER: You know what, I'm going to say this first. I would like to thank all the advocates, the activists. I'd like to thank the people that stayed in these streets marching night and day, people of Portland stayed in the streets with 83 days, I think. I may be wrong, but thankful for everybody that stayed out there making a statement with us and cared to this on our dark days, dark nights, we had them.
And, you know, we got so many messages flood, man, from social media sites. We can't read them all, it's so many. And -- but you know what, thank you for each and every one. So many people at grocery stores who walked in, we heard from elders, you know, I believe in respecting the elders. I give you guys all the respect, man and woman. And I hear them walk up in the grocery store, stop me.
I'm in a masked up face, a hat and a mask and they say, hey, I recognize the side of your face, let me talk to you. I know who you are. I just -- and we have a hold -- they stop and hold a great conversation, telling me what they experienced as a child, what they saw and what they need for change. And they say we are here for you. And this is everywhere I go, my brother go, we all go.
And thank you people for the love in the streets. I'm thanking everyone. Because we couldn't have did this. And this is a victory for all of us. There's no color boundary on this. This is everyone who's been held down, pinned down. And, you know what, people, we stand together in unity.
And this I would like to thank our team, is our Attorney Ben Crump, Attorney Tony Romanucci, the witnesses, Donna Williams, I would like to thank the jury, I mean, everybody, thank God almighty. Thank you.
And you know what people, we're not done yet. And my brother, George, he's smiling. His beautiful daughter is here Gianna. Baby, you're so beautiful, so smart. Roxy, you have my heart baby. Thank you for holding Gianna, keeping her strong. I know how hard it is.
I would like to thank everyone to helped out in the streets. I would like to thank this jury for having the hearts and minds, since that we all seen video because we know this video was an open-and-shut case. Everybody know this videos. And what the jury had to say, man, I said, we all here, guilty as charged.
I'd like to thank them. I'd like to thank, again, everybody, the press and all. But for George, this fight is not over. We're going to stand here together. We're going to try to get this George Floyd Act passed. The act has to be passed, people. It has to be. We're going to keep pressure on the Senate, everybody. Thank you all for coming. George, I know that he love all you all.
[18:40:01]
[18:45:02]
Thank you all.
BENJAMIN CRUMP, GEORGE FLOYD'S FAMILY ATTORNEY: All right, Rodney.
(APPLAUSE)
CRUMP: Next, we're going to have a man who him and George used to text each other all the time. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee always talked about Cuney Homes, Houston, Texas. Back there, I think y'all call him woo.
We're going to hear from Brandon Williams, was like a son to George.
(APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Woo.
BRANDON WILLIAMS, NEPHEW OF GEORGE FLOYD: It's a very emotional day for me. I already had the worse (ph). I'm overwhelmed with joy.
But I do want to start by saying thank you. First of all, thank you all you guys advocating, protesting in the middle of the pandemic, putting your lives and safety on the line. We appreciate that.
Especially to our legal team -- Ben, Tony, Justin, Chris, Justin back here. Definitely, definitely, thank you to Keith Ellison and his team. I think they did an amazing job from start to finish.
All of the evidence, all of the witnesses, everything proved exactly what we saw in that video. But yes, we are still questioning the decision of the juror, and I wonder why. Oftentimes the system fails us our black men and women in America. But all evidence there, everything pointing to a guilty verdict, we somehow still don't get the guilty verdict or in some cases, I got my good friend, Kenny Walker, back here, we don't even get charges.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, right!
WILLIAMS: So today is a pivotal moment, for America. It's something this country has needed for a long time now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
WILLIAMS: And hopefully, today is the start of it. When I say a pivotal moment, we need change in this broken system. It was built to a process. It was built against us.
Oftentimes we see people who are supposed to, supposed to protect and serve. Supposed to protect and serve, they do the total opposite. On the first day of the trial, we were short when we had a press conference. And we need for 8 minutes 46 seconds.
And when I got up, and it was my turn to speak, I said that every time I come out here, it's harder, because this is the exact place that they took somebody from me that I love. And I absolutely dislike coming here. But I also said this time it was easy, because we came for one thing and one thing only. That was justice for George Floyd. And today, that's what we got.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes!
(APPLAUSE)
WILLIAMS: So this time, it wasn't hard at all. It wasn't hard at all. I'm big on faith and prayer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes!
WILLIAMS: I have a lot of faith. But I was also optimistic. We needed police reform bad. These guys are able to wear a badge and go out in a field, which meets a qualified and trained to do their job, at a higher level. But when you shoot and kill a man that's running away from you that doesn't pose a threat, either you are not qualified or and under-trained, or it's a choice and you want to kill black men and women.
It's either one or the other. And I think today Keith Ellison and his team proved that just because you are the law, you're not above the law.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah!
WILLIAMS: We need each and every officer to be held accountable. And until then, you're still scared to be a black man and woman in America encountering police.
So when I say today is a pivotal moment, it's a chance for America to take a turn in the right direction and write a lot of wrongs so that we don't keep adding to these names. So there are little boys girls and boys like Gianna who are growing up with our farmers. So the families don't feel the pain we feel. It's a lot of sleepless nights.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes!
WILLIAMS: No family should go through that.
And hopefully we start turning the right direction today. And this day in history proves that it was a turning point. Thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
CRUMP: We're going to hear from just a few more family members and then we're going to try and get to your questions. But I will be remiss because Brandon says I got to acknowledge his man Cliff who works for us.
WILLIAMS: My man Cliff.
CRUMP: And he talked about Kenny Walker, of course, as we talk about all the brothers, we can never forget that they're killing black women as well. So we got to remember Breonna Taylor, we have to remember Atatiana Jefferson, we got remember Sandra Bland and we know Tamika Mallory, May 13th, Pam Turner in a couple of weeks where having a march for black women in Baytown, Texas.
Because if you are outraged when you saw the video about George Floyd got killed by the police, and you should be equally outraged when you see the video of how they killed Pam Turner, an unarmed black women laying down on her back, that he shot in the face, in the chest, and in the stomach.
Justice for George Floyd means freedom for all us like Philonise says. So, that's why we're fighting for Pam Turner. In fact, we're going to bring up people who come from that Harris County, Texas area, cousins of George Floyd, Sharita McGee (ph) and Tera Brown (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, first of all, let me just say that my cousins and Wu (ph) pretty covered much everything. There's really not a whole lot left for me today. I just really want to echo the sentiments of them that when we started this journey almost a year ago that we were committed to doing a couple of things.
One thing is to ensure the justice was served and that we were going to be here visible, and present, and actively involved until we saw it through. We are a family who's strong in our faith, we relied on in other areas of our life and this time is no different. We pray to God, we expect our prayers to not come back void and deliver force today.
So we are eternally grateful for everyone, from the press to the activists, the attorneys, the prosecution team, everyone. We have so many people that we want to thank, that are just really feel like we're probably going to leave somebody out, I hope you charge it to my head and my heart because we sincerely appreciate everything, that everybody is done and we thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
TERA BROWN, GEORGE FLOYD'S COUSIN: Wow, I'm really overwhelmed with emotion and I just am grateful for this day. It's been a journey for sure, and it's victory for George Floyd today, is a victory for many. When we started this journey, kind of like my sister said, we are committed to making sure, we know will never get George back and that's the sad part.
But we are fighting, we're going to continue to fight because we've all individually and together as a family had that conversation. That if we could have been there with George on the day, there probably would've been more than one dead. But we couldn't be there, so we can't bring him back but we can save lives.
And w want the actual reform that's going to not only give us the change we want, but make sure not another family has to suffer one we've suffered.
Thank you all. My sister kind of touched on everything. We have an amazing team here, who have helped us along this journey, we are so grateful for everyone who has supported us along the way. We are forever grateful to you, we love you all, thank you.
CRUMP: Thank you, Tera.
So, we're going to hear from two more cousins and then we're going to hear last from the family, Roxie and Gianna are going to comment. Then, Reverend Al may have Reverend Jackson and others address you. At this time we're going to have Angela and Paris come, cousins of George Floyd.
ANGELA HARRELSON, GEORGE FLOYD'S AUNT: Hello, I'm Angela Harrelson, I'm actually George Floyd's on and this is the cousin here.
[18:55:03]
So anyway, I just want to say that this has been a hard road, not just for the family but for everybody.
And I want to especially thank the Minneapolis community for holding it down at the George Floyd Square. Janelle Austin, you know, Maya Washington, these are community leaders that held it down at that place. They kept that place sacred for everyone to go there to express their condolences. And so we appreciate that.
And this verdict is a verdict that is well-needed and overdue.
I want to say to people around the world, it was a darkness. May 25th was a very, very dark day. There's a lot of pain, and there was a lot of hatred. But I want to say the same time that I got a chance to witness something. I got a chance to witness the love that I saw around the world that was poured to the family.
I don't know if I ever see that again in my lifetime, but I'm glad I got to see the love that you've shown me and my family, and everyone because you've touched us. I want to say thank you, and I'm so glad about this day, thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
BLITZER: All right. We're going to continue to monitor the families of the speaking so powerfully, so emotionally, a historic day as I say here in the United States of America. The jury, they deliberated for two days, 10 hours, second degree unintentional murder, guilty, third- degree murder, guilty, second degree manslaughter, guilty.
We saw the former Police Officer Derek Chauvin then handcuffed by the police and escorted out of that courtroom, that trial. You can see it right there, he is now going to jail. He was out of jail on bail over these past several months, awaiting the trial and the verdict. But now, he's going to jail.
Don Lemon, I want to get your reaction to the powerful statements we have heard from so many right now, all believing that potentially our country is at a major moment, a pivot potentially in the history of racism in our country.
DON LEMON, CNN HOST: As I said earlier with Anderson and Chief Ramsey that I believe it was an inflection point, actually they repeated that earlier, I said the same thing earlier that we are in an inflection point.
You know, Wolf, I stop taking notes. From the beginning, as everybody was speaking there, I was taking notes, but I stop for a while just to watch what's happening, just to be able to observe it and absorb it, not only as a journalist, but as a person of color in this country.
I won't begin to speak for my colleagues, but I know how they feel. That we said here is sometimes we get a little bit too dignified, where we think that we can't react to what's happening around as journalist.
I know that as a mother, that Laura sitting there and she is sitting there thinking about her children, and that their possibly one day won't -- their lives won't be in jeopardy when they get pulled over by police officers, or her husbands as well.
And for Van, as a black man when he sees flashing lights behind him, over Chief Ramsey who's had to work as a law enforcement officer for so many years and probably suffered injustices as well. And for me, for how emotional it was covering this trial, the entire time and then getting criticized for just the personal aspect of it, not only from the public, but from the highest office in the land. The last time we spent this much time covering this trial was when peaceful protests which is as I said earlier, was being gassed by the last president.
And now, we are awaiting word from the current president who picked up the phone and called the family after this verdict, and the vice president of the United States. Before I stop taking notes, I will tell you the most important things I thought was said was that by Keith Ellison, who said this is more than just as this is accountability, this is accountability that puts us on the road to accountability and where to take that a little bit.
The second thing I think -- this is not an in order of importance, is what Jerry Blackwell said, this sends a message to the Floyd family that his life mattered.
And the third thing was that I think it's the most important thing for all of us, this helps us further along the road to better humanity. And let's hope those words stick, Wolf.
BLITZER: And we're standing by, Don, to hear from the president of the United States, Joe Biden. He's getting ready to speak from the White House. The Vice President kamala Harris will be speaking as well, a very, very dramatic moment for them, a dramatic moment indeed for the entire country we are watching this.
Derek Chauvin, the former police officer is now convicted, convicted murderer. He is in jail right now.
Our special coverage will continue, of course, throughout the night.
"ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT" picks it up right now.
