PHILADELPHIA (APRIL 20, 2021) –Philadelphia City Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District), Vice-Chairman of Council’s Public Safety Committee, released the following statement on the guilty verdict in the death of the late Minnesota resident George Floyd:
“I am happy to hear that a 12 person Hennepin County (Minnesota) Court jury has found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all three counts in the killing of George Floyd.
“The guilty verdict comes almost one year after Mr. Floyd was killed on the ground under the knee of Mr. Chauvin.
“Here in Philadelphia, I was the lead sponsor of a new law last year called “Let Philly Breathe,” which bans chokeholds and similar restraints that were used against Mr. Floyd. The law, which is in effect now, was supported by the Philadelphia Police Department, SEPTA Police, and the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office.
“Let us honor the life and memory of Mr. Floyd by being peaceful throughout the Greater Philadelphia Region today and advocating for police reforms nationwide. I feel that the unanimous guilty verdict is a small step towards the fight for police accountability and reforms throughout the nation.”
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