(Ottawa) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomed the conviction judgment of former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin, issued by a jury in the United States on Tuesday, in connection with the death of George Floyd a year earlier.
Derek Chauvin was found guilty of all three counts against him: second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and manslaughter.
Mr. Trudeau said the verdict was good news.
But he added that the lawsuit highlights how much work remains to be done to tackle systemic racism.
Derek Chauvin held his knee on George Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes, while the 46-year-old black man struggled to breathe.
Mr. Floyd’s death sparked protests around the world, including in Canada, where the plight of racist Canadians surfaced.
“It’s good that we saw the verdict that people were hoping for,” Trudeau told Edmonton-based internet talk show host Ryan Jesperson in an interview shortly after Derek Chauvin’s conviction.
He added: “But this also confirms that there is a tremendous amount of work to be done.”
“As we have seen over the past year with the surprising realization by everyone that systemic discrimination continues, something that Canadians and people of color around the world have known for a very long time.
“Minor attacks, overt racism, and the challenges that exist within our institutions and in our daily lives must be addressed.”
Trudeau said he believed the anger at the death of George Floyd had created “tremendous momentum” to transform societies to become “more just and inclusive.”
“I think it was a real wake-up call to a lot of people a year ago.”
