Chants of 'bulls**t and 'BLM' erupt outside Minneapolis court as Derek Chauvin is sentenced to 22.5 years for George Floyd's murder as Rev Al Sharpton tells crowd: 'Justice would have been the maximum'
About one hundred people gathered outside the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Friday afternoon as former police officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced for the death of Derek Chauvin.
There was an intense reaction from the crowd who chanted 'Black Lives Matter' while holding placards and waving flags.
Outside the courthouse, the clasped hands or placed them on each other's shoulders. The reaction was subdued as people debated whether the sentence was long enough.
Some cursed in disgust and could be heard shouting 'Bulls***!', unhappy at the 22½ year sentence, of which Chauvin is likely to serve two-thirds, or about 15 years.
The punishment - which fell short of the 30 years prosecutors had requested - came after Chauvin broke his more than yearlong silence in court to offer condolences to the Floyd family. He also said more information will be coming out and he hopes the family will eventually have 'some peace of mind.'
With good behavior, Chauvin, 45, could get out on parole after serving two-thirds of his sentence, or about 15 years.
Speaking outside the court, American civil rights leader Al Sharpton made a statement praising the sentencing, the longest ever for a police officer, while still acknowledging that a longer sentence would have also been appropriate.
People react as they listen to the sentencing hearing of former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin outside the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Former policeman Derek Chauvin was sentenced to 22-and-a-half years in jail Friday for murdering African American George Floyd
Reverend Al Sharpton, surrounded by relatives of George Floyd, talks to the media after the sentencing
Lawyer Ben Crump, sorrounded by members of George Floyd's family, talks to the media after the sentencing
People surround civil rights lawyer and lead attorney for the George Floyd family, Benjamin Crump (C-R), and Reverend Al Sharpton (C-L) as well as Floyd family members, after the sentencing of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin
Attorney Ben Crump hugs Reverend Al Sharpton at the sentencing of former police officer Derek Chauvin
'This verdict and this sentencing is the longest sentence we've seen, but it is not justice, because George Floyd is in a grave tonight, even though Chauvin will be in jail. So let us not feel that we're here to celebrate, because justice would have been George Floyd never have been killed. Justice would have been the maximum,' Sharpton began.
'We got more than we thought. Only because we have been disappointed so many times before. 22.5 years is longer than we've ever gotten, but shorter than what we should have gotten in the past. Let us remember, a man lost his life.
'This is not a prayer of celebration, it's a prayer to thank God for giving the strength of this family and those activists that stayed in the streets to make sure this court had to do what was right. Let me repeat, for those in the back, because those are the ones that marched, that this is the longest sentence they've ever given, but it is not justice. Justice is George Floyd would be alive.
Sharpton then joined the Floyd family in prayer.
'We ask you to give this family strength and give them grace. And you have brought us now to the end of this particular proceeding. They will say it is more time than any time in history, but we will say that history has been long underserving its citizens. And we humbly thank you for giving this family the strength to stand where other families didn't even get a court date.
'We remember Erik garner today. We remember Michael Brown. We remember Jacob Blake, who is still with us. We remember Tamir Rice on his birthday. We remember Breonna Taylor.'
Bishop Harding Smith reacts outside Hennepin County Government Center after the sentence on former police officer Derek Chauvin who was sentenced for murdering George Floyd, in Minneapolis, Minnesota
People gather to hear the Derek Chauvin sentencing in Minneapolis
A person reacts outside Hennepin County Government Center after the sentencing on former police officer Derek Chauvin
People gather to hear the Derek Chauvin sentencing and hug one another after the news broke
Derek Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter on April 20 in the death of African-American George Floyd in a case that roiled the United States for almost a year, laying bare deep racial divisions
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin addresses his sentencing hearing and the judge as he awaits his sentenceon Friday
People gather outside the Hennepin County Government Center and watch a live stream of the sentencing hearing for Derek Chauvin
Also speaking outsider the court, Ben Crump, the Floyd Family Attorney also gave his thoughts on the sentencing.
'Today represents a opportunity to be a turning point in America. This is the longest sentence that a police officer has ever been sentenced to in the history of the state of Minnesota. But this should not be the exception when a black person is killed by brutality by police. It should be the norm.
'And so when we think about real justice, real justice would be that George Floyd would still be here with his family. So what we got today was some measure of accountability, and we understand that there are still federal charges pending. So as his brothers and his family asks for the maximum, we're still holding up for the maximum,' Crump continued.
'We have to remember, real justice in America will be black men and black women and people of color will not have to fear being killed by the police just because the color of their skin. That would be real justice. So we thank most of all the millions of Americans who raised their voice.
You all raised your voices, and because you raised your voices, that is why we got the guilty conviction, and that is why we got the longest sentence in the state of Minnesota history. So on behalf of the Floyd family, we want to say thank you to millions of Americans who all said, until we get justice for George Floyd, until we get accountability for George Floyd, none of us can breathe. We can breathe just a little easier today. And we thank you for that.'
Crump later roused the crown with a chant: 'Maximum accountability for George Floyd! Maximum accountability for George Floyd!'
'Maximum accountability for George Floyd! Maximum accountability for George Floyd!' lawyer Ben Crump chanted
Relatives of George Floyd and other members of African American community talk to journalists during a rally outside Hennepin County District Court
'Today represents a opportunity to be a turning point in America. This is the longest sentence that a police officer has ever been sentenced to in the history of the state of Minnesota. But this should not be the exception when a black person is killed by brutality by police. It should be the norm,' said attorney Ben Crump
''We have to remember, real justice in America will be black men and black women and people of color will not have to fear being killed by the police just because the color of their skin. That would be real justice. So we thank most of all the millions of Americans who raised their voice,' added Crump
The Rev. Al Sharpton, center, leads George Floyd family members in prayer at a news conference after the sentencing
Justin Blake , uncle of Jacob Blake, stands outside the Hennepin County Government Center and listens to a live stream of the sentencing
Reverend Al Sharpton speaks outside of the Hennepin County Government Center for the sentencing of former police officer Derek Chauvin
Reverend Al Sharpton and Attorney Ben Crump hold a prayer with members of George Floyd's family
People gather to watch court proceedings outside of the Hennepin County Government Center
The former Minneapolis Police officer was sentenced on Friday after being convicted of murder in the death of George Floyd, pictured on the back of a jacket
Attorney Ben Crump is pictured walking into the Hennepin County Government Center before the sentencing began
gather outside the Hennepin County Government Center and listen to victim impact statements during the sentencing
People gather outside the Hennepin County Government Center and listen to victim impact statements
People wait outside Hennepin County Government Center ahead of a sentence being pronounced on Derek Chauvin
People wait outside Hennepin County Government Center ahead of the sentence being pronounced
A person listens to live stream outside Hennepin County Government Center ahead of the sentence being pronounced
People wait outside Hennepin County Government Center ahead of a sentence coming out
Emotions ran high outside the courthouse as those gathered waited for news
Hundreds of people gathered outside the courthouse in Minneapolis as they waited for news on Friday afternoon
People react after learning of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin's sentencing outside the Hennepin County Government Center
People watch the sentencing hearing of former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin with family members delivering impact statements
People react as they watch the sentencing hearing on their cellphones on the lawn outside the courthouse
People watch the sentencing hearing of former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin outside the Hennepin County Government Center
A person holds a portrait of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota
People waiting outside were glued to their cellphones as the sentencing was announced