In Lexington Tuesday, community organization LPD Accountability hosted a gathering at the Fayette County Courthouse Plaza and streamed the verdict announcements in the trial of Derek Chauvin from a Minneapolis courtroom.
A few minutes after 5 pm the group remained quiet after the former police officer was found guilty of two counts of murder and one count of manslaughter in the death of George Floyd.
Reactions were a mix of relief and hesitancy.
Community organizer April Taylor said she felt a mix of emotions. Taylor was happy for George Floyd’s family but wary of how the verdict might affect police reform.
“And to say, well, look, the system does work, the system does hold cops accountable. When we know that 99% of the time police are not held accountable when they use force, or do things that are racist, or that kind of thing,” Taylor said.
Liane Woodhead works with adults who have intellectual, developmental and mental health issues. Woodhead hopes that more police officers will start speaking up.
“So that there can be more justice, but hopefully there doesn’t have to be justice," Woodhead said. “Hopefully, people will quit being killed. That's the ultimate thing is, you know, I don’t want to have to say another name.”
The news of the guilty verdict surprised Garland Watkins, an Airforce veteran.
“Maybe things will change in the world, not just the United States, not just in Lexington,” Watkins said. “It’s just a relief to everyone...black, white, everybody.”
Watkins, who is 65, said he didn’t expect to witness a verdict like this in his lifetime.
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