‘We’re gonna stay strong’: Floyd family reacts to sentence
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MINNEAPOLIS (NewsNation Now) — Some of George Floyd’s family members on Friday called Derek Chauvin’s 22 1/2-year sentence for murder in his death insufficient, while others expressed optimism that it would be an impetus for change.
NewsNation spoke with Antonio Romanucci, an attorney for Floyd’s family, after the sentencing.
“The Floyd family would have loved to have seen a greater sentence,” Romanucci said. “They wanted to see a sentence that measured the amount of injustice that has been found on them and George, but that didn’t happen.”
One of Floyd’s brothers, Rodney Floyd, called the sentence a “slap on the wrist.”
“We’ve suffered a life sentence for not having him in our life, and that hurts me to death,” he said.
Another brother, Terrence Floyd, said he was “a little leery about the sentencing” until he had a dream in which his father appeared.
“I knew my father was saying, ‘You’re good. he’s good. keep doing what you’re doing. For me, for your brother, for your name,’” he said. “We’re Floyd strong and we’re gonna stay strong.”
Bridgett Floyd, George Floyd’s sister and founder of the George Floyd Memorial Foundation, said the sentence “shows that matters of police brutality are finally being taken seriously.”
“We have a long way to go and many changes to make before Black and brown people finally feel like they are being treated fairly and humanely by law enforcement in this country,” Bridgett said in a statement released Friday.
Nephew Brandon Williams said the sentence wasn’t harsh enough.
“When you think about George being murdered, in cold blood with a knee on his neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds execution-style in broad daylight, 22 and a half years is not enough,” Williams said.
“We were served a life sentence. We can’t get George back.”
Chauvin still faces federal charges alleging he violated Floyd’s civil rights.
“They (the Floyd family) are hopefully that with the federal charges that there will be a greater sentence that runs consecutive to what we see now, which will reach the maximum that could have been had by Derek Chauvin,” Romanucci said.
Reverend Al Sharpton and Attorney Ben Crump hold a prayer with members of George Floyd’s family outside of the Hennepin County Government Center for the sentencing of former police officer Derek Chauvin on Friday, June 25, 2021 in Minneapolis. Chauvin is set to learn his fate as a Minnesota judge sentences him for murder in the death of George Floyd. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa) 
FILE – In this April 20, 2021 file photo, George Floyd’s brother, Terrence Floyd, speaks during a news conference after the verdict was read in the trial of former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin, who was convicted of second-degree unintentional murder and other charges in Floyd’s May 25, 2020, death, in Minneapolis. Floyd’s family members — including his brothers Terrence and Philonise and his nephew Brandon Williams — will give statements in court Friday, June 25, before Chauvin is sentenced. (AP Photo/John Minchillo File) 
FILE – In this April 20, 2021 file photo, George Floyd’s nephew Brandon Williams speaks during a news conference after the verdict was read in the trial of former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin, who was convicted of second-degree unintentional murder and other charges in Floyd’s May 25, 2020, death, in Minneapolis. Floyd’s family members — including his brothers Philonise and Terrence and Williams — will give statements in court Friday, June 25 before Chauvin is sentenced. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File) 
The Rev. Al Sharpton, right, with hand on coat, along with family members of George Floyd leads a prayer before entering the Hennepin County Government Center for the sentencing of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, Friday, June 25, 2021, in Minneapolis, for the May 2020 death of George Floyd during an arrest in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
