Athletes react to the George Floyd trial verdict

Jason Owens
FILE - In this April 19, 2021, file image from video, defense attorney Eric Nelson, left, accompanied by defendant, former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin, speaks to the judge at the Hennepin County courthouse in Minneapolis, Minn. Prosecutors fought hard to add a third-degree murder charge against Chauvin, but a conviction on that charge alone could set up a problematic scenario for them. (Court TV via AP, Pool)
Derek Chauvin, right, was convicted on all three counts in George Floyd's death. (Court TV via AP, Pool) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd on Tuesday.

Chauvin stood trial after Floyd died while in police custody last May. Prior to Floyd's death, Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes outside of a Minneapolis market as Floyd repeatedly pleaded "I can't breathe." Floyd was suspected of passing a counterfeit $20 bill.

Onlookers recorded the incident on video as some pleaded with Chauvin to stop.

The trial took place over the course of three weeks before closing arguments on Monday. Jurors deliberated into Tuesday afternoon before reaching their verdict.

Floyd's death prompted an outpouring of civil unrest across the nation last summer that extended to the sports community. Leagues like the NBA, WNBA and NFL adopted "Black Lives Matter" and "End Racism" messages as themes of their 2020 seasons amid athlete backlash against another Black man's death at the hands of police.

Athletes, teams and leagues across sports reacted to the news of Tuesday's verdict.

 

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