Campus remained quiet Tuesday after the jury announced guilty verdicts in the trial of Derek Chauvin, almost a year after the killing of George Floyd at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue.
Chauvin was found guilty on all three felony charges: second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The second-degree unintentional murder charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 40 years.
The jury came out with a verdict after about 10 hours of deliberations over two days.
Students Nicole Jacobson and Cassie Jenny addressed the verdict while sitting together at the Anderson Student Center: “(We) feel their stance makes sense. … his sentencing is still to be determined but (we) definitely think they had probable cause for the verdict they came out too.”
Prior to the verdict, University of St. Thomas public safety and residence life sent out emails alerting students and offering precautions they could take if it led to unrest. But the campus remained quiet.
Minneapolis campus classes were canceled after 3:30 p.m., and business operations were closed at 4 p.m. Some St. Paul on-campus activities were also canceled in anticipation of the trial verdict but classes were held into the evening.
President Julie Sullivan sent an email to students, staff and faculty following the announcement of the verdict to express a “long overdue” measure of justice.
“We all have a responsibility to engage in the work of racial justice, and St. Thomas will be part of this work,” said Sullivan in the email.
“I can tell I’m in the middle of something really decisive,” said student Rachel Rober as she waited for the verdict in the Anderson Student Center. “I don’t think something this big can be forgotten. It will definitely have an impact beyond today.”
A few community members were gathered on the streets of St. Paul around campus, showing their support for the decision with homemade signs.
Highland Park resident Bob Whitehead showed his support for the verdict by holding up signs on Ford Parkway along with a few other community members.
“We need to continue looking at the systems and at the police departments, and continue to hold these people accountable,” said Whitehead. “This is just a first step, and it’s a good first step, but more still needs to be done.”
Lauren Price can be reached at lauren.price@stthomas.edu.
Macy Berendsen can be reached at macy.berendsen@stthomas.edu.
Sydney LaBelle can be reached at labe7208@stthomas.edu.
Logan Sriharatsa can be reached at srih1201@stthomas.edu.