'We are able to breathe again': George Floyd's family reacts after conviction of Derek Chauvin

Feelings of vindication and pledges to continue fighting for justice poured in on Tuesday after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter for pinning George Floyd to the pavement with his knee on the Black man's neck until he died last May.

Outside the Minneapolis courthouse, a crowd of several hundred people erupted in cheers when the verdict was announced. Chants of "George Floyd" and "All three counts" broke out.

"We got the verdict we wanted," Terrence Floyd, George Floyd's brother, said at a news conference Tuesday evening.

"I'm going to miss him, but now I know he's in history."

Philonise Floyd, another of Floyd's siblings, pledged to continue fighting against racial injustice.

"I'm not just fighting for George anymore," he said. "I'm fighting for everybody around this world."

He said in the close to 11 months since George's death, he's heard from people around the world telling him, "We won't be able to breathe until you're able to breathe."

"Today, we are able to breathe again," Philonise said.

Chauvin was found guilty on all three charges: second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

"We need to use this verdict as an inflection point," Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said shortly after the verdict was read in court.

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