George Floyd's uncle says former police officer's sentence 'sends a message'
As a Minnesota judge sentenced former police officer Derek Chauvin on Friday afternoon in the death of George Floyd, Floyd's uncle watched on television from his office in Raleigh.
Posted — Updated"It's acceptable as far as I'm concerned," Roger Floyd said of the 22½-year sentence.
Prosecutors called for 30 years behind bars, while Chauvin's defense urged that he be placed on probation.
"I had 25 years imprinted on my brain for quite some time," Roger Floyd said, adding that he thinks 22½ years "sends a message."
"It will certainly give him something to think about – the devastation that he caused for our family and what we had to relive during that trial," he said.
Now, he said, the Floyd family has to move forward.
"As a family, we're doing so much better," he said. "We're getting there one day at a time, and I think this [sentence] will somewhat close the chapter on this aspect of it."
"His death will not be in vain because we're going to uplift his name every day," Roger Floyd said, adding that he's already forgiven Chauvin.
"That's the faith I have because, first, he's a human being, and he made a mistake – it was quite egregious," he said. "It's unfortunate for Derek that he made that mistake. Where his mind was that day is unbeknownst to me. As a Christian, I can forgive him because, ultimately, God is going to be the judge."
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