The Facts
On Thurs., former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was federally sentenced to 245 months [21 years] in prison for the violation of George Floyd's civil rights. Chauvin had been sentenced to 252 months but had seven months subtracted for previous time served.
The sentence will be in parallel with a state sentence of 22.5 years after he was convicted for both second- and third-degree murder. He was also previously convicted of second-degree manslaughter.
The Spin
Left narrative
Floyd's appalling killing forced America to face its troubling issues with racism and police brutality. Chauvin's trial was a key test of the justice system and ongoing developments show progress. However, this is just the beginning, and more must be done to prevent further tragedies.
Right narrative
There is no doubt that Floyd's death was an avoidable tragedy and those responsible must be held accountable. However, Chauvin was tried in a highly publicized and frenzied environment. His state trial was little more than a political charade that didn't give him a full measure of justice.
