Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton was among many who expressed their opinion on the guilty verdict of police officer Derek Chauvin, responsible for the death of George Floyd.
Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter which led Hamilton to pay a tribute to Floyd on Twitter.
“JUSTICE for George! The emotions I feel right now are hard to describe,” wrote Hamilton. “Derek Chauvin has been found guilty.”
Chauvin has been sentenced to a maximum term of 75 years in jail.
Hamilton shared his opinions on the case along with an artwork of George Floyd for his 21 million+ followers. He also wrote that the verdict marks “a new dawn in the fight for racial justice”.
“This is the first time that a white officer has been convicted for killing a black man in Minnesota. This is monumental, George’s death is not in vain…The result of the Derek Chauvin trial today is the right one. Convicting him of all three charges marks a new dawn in the fight for racial justice.”
Hamilton has been an active supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement. The Brit even began to take a knee on the grid before every race and wears anti-racism slogans on his t-shirt. He was glad that the trial was finally over.
“This trial was an opportunity for the justice system to hold Derek Chauvin accountable for his actions when he took the life of George Floyd. We can now breathe a collective sigh of relief that the right decision has been met, and that justice has been served.
“Today’s outcome is a sombre victory for George and his family, but it shows that our efforts to promote justice are not in vain. Black voices have been heard and action is happening. When we stand together, we can make a difference.”
Hamilton believes that even though this chapter is over, there is still a lot to be done in the fight for equality.
“But this is just one step on the path towards a more equal society. Since George’s death, so many other Black people have died at the hands of the police and we must ensure the momentum of today continues. The fight isn’t over, and there is more to be done, but we can consider today a glimmer of hope.
“My thoughts and prayers are with George’s family. I hope they will feel a sense of peace from this result,” concluded Hamilton.
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