JUSTICE: Hamilton reacts to George Floyd verdict

This Tuesday afternoon, Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer accused of the murder of George Floyd, was found guilty of three charges:

• second degree unintentional murder,
• third degree murder,
• and second degree involuntary manslaughter.

George Floyd was an African American man who died on May 25, 2020, after ex-police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for over nine minutes while he was lying on his stomach with his hands handcuffed behind his back. His agony, filmed live by bystanders, shocked the world and sparked historically massive protests against racism and police violence during his arrest.

Hamilton, the only black driver in the prestigious Formula 1, has long been an advocate for social rights and declared that he was overtaken by rage following the murder of Floyd last May. He was seen during the Grand Prix races showing his support for the family and memory of the latter as well as advocating for the Black Lives Matter movement.

Following this verdict, Hamilton reacted on his social media on Tuesday evening: “JUSTICE for George! The emotions I am feeling at the moment are difficult to describe.”

Derek Chauvin has been found guilty. This is the first time a white officer has been convicted of killing a black man in Minnesota.

« It is monumental, George’s death is not in vain. The outcome of Derek Chauvin’s trial today is the right one. Convicting him of all three charges marks a new dawn in the fight for racial justice.

« This trial was an opportunity for the judicial system to hold Derek Chauvin accountable for his actions when he took the life of George Floyd. We can now collectively breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the right decision was made and justice was served.

Translate: « Today’s outcome is a bittersweet victory for George and his family, but it shows that our efforts to promote justice are not in vain. The voices of Black people have been heard and actions are being taken. When we stand united, we can make a difference. »

« But this is only a step on the path to 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 that today’s momentum continues. The fight is not over, and there is still much to be done, but we can consider today as a glimmer of hope.

« My thoughts and prayers go out to George’s family. I hope they will feel a sense of peace from this outcome. #BlackLivesMatter.

« We can consider today as a glimmer of hope »

Bubba Wallace, the only African-American NASCAR driver, also spoke out on Twitter to express his reaction: « Justice has been served on all counts. Good. There is still a ton of work to be done. Keep resting in peace #GeorgeFloyd.

The world of sports rallied during this tragedy, as we could see in the NBA or in football, and still continues to do so to this day. Lewis Hamilton, the only black Formula 1 driver, is trying to contribute in order to make F1 accessible to the African American community and break down these invisible barriers. We had already seen him in 2018, when he released a short 15-second video clip saying: « There is virtually no diversity. It’s been 11 years now and nothing has changed in that regard. There are many jobs in this sport that are accessible to everyone, regardless of your ethnic origin or social background », concluding his message with the hashtags « diversity » and « you can make it ».”