Black Lives Matter activists had a meltdown on Friday afternoon after a judge delivered a sentence for Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd. The judge’s sentence for count one of unintentional second-degree murder is 270 months or 22.5 years.
The judge qualified his sentence as having been rendered without “emotion,” while acknowledging the pain of the Floyd family in particular. He also said he is not “attempting to send any messages” to the community, and is not rendered without consideration of “public opinion.”
“Mr. Chauvin, 45 years old, was convicted in April of all counts: second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter in the killing of Mr. Floyd,” the Wall Street Journal reported. “The 46-year-old Black man died after the white officer knelt on his neck and back for more than nine minutes. Mr. Chauvin was fired from the Minneapolis police force.”
Prosecutors had asked for a 30-year sentence, while the defense has argued for probation. The maximum presumptive sentence was 40 years. Chauvin may serve as few as 15 years.
“Killer cop gets 20 years! Let this be a warning to the police around the country, you are on notice! You. Are. Not. Going. To. Get. Away. With. Murder. Ever. Again!!!” one BLM supporter reacted.
“There will never be a sentence long enough, but really this one should have been much, much longer,”another added with the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag.
“Not long enough,” another said.
Activists gathered in Minneapolis to express their anger and disappointment at the sentence.
MINNEAPOLIS REACTS TO CHAUVIN SENTENCING: Protesters are gathering in Minneapolis following the sentencing of Derek Chauvin. Chauvin was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison for the murder of George Floyd. https://t.co/AaBp0MnZsQ
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) June 25, 2021
Minnesota AG Keith Ellison also blasted the sentencing. Ben Crump and Al Sharpton were also in attendance.
MINNESOTA AG ON CHAUVIN SENTENCE: Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is delivering remarks following the sentencing of Derek Chauvin. Chauvin was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison for the murder of George Floyd. https://t.co/Oy2G06yDzW
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) June 25, 2021
The sentencing was sure to disappoint Black Lives Matter and social justice activists who had sought a much longer sentence.
“For someone who actually committed murder, if he only gets like 15 years, that’s unacceptable,” Trahern Crews, founder and chief organizer for Black Lives Matter Minnesota said before the sentencing.
“The maximum penalty for second-degree murder in Minnesota is 40 years,” WSJ noted. “State sentencing guidelines recommend 12 to 15 years for someone with no prior felony convictions, but prosecutors said they would seek a harsher sentence.”
The BLM statements are an ominous sign that riots may be forthcoming. It may seem like the wrong way to honor George Floyd’s legacy, but it hasn’t stopped activists from rioting and burning down communities for “social justice” before.
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OPINION: This article contains commentary which reflects the author's opinion.