ROANOKE, Va. – Days after hearing the jury find Derek Chauvin guilty of murdering his nephew, George Floyd’s uncle, Selwyn Jones, tells 10 News he wants America to keep the momentum in delivering justice.
When the jury read guilty on all three charges against Derek Chauvin, George Floyd’s Uncle, Selwyn Jones, counted.
“One down. Three more to go,” he said.
The trial for the other three officers involved in Floyd’s death is set to begin in August. Feeling partly defeated, Jones said the recent verdict is not a symbol of justice. It’s a moment of accountability.
“I do like the verdict but don’t put the carpet in front of the horse because something else is coming up,” Jones said.
On Thursday, Jones paid his respects to Daunte Wright as he was laid to rest in Minneapolis, the same place where his nephew took his final breath last May.
“I’m sad every time I hear another name,” Jones said.
But now Jones focuses on passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a bill that aims to ban chokeholds, create a police misconduct registry and eliminate qualified immunity. He hopes the momentum from the trial will give the bill a push.
“I don’t think there will ever be a situation where we will ever have this advantage,” he said. “So let’s take advantage of what we got and what we can to see if we can make a better place.”
However, in late January, the Virginia House struck down a bill to end qualified immunity. Democrats said it would hold officers more accountable, but critics said it would hinder officer recruitment as local departments face officer shortages.
Jones hopes police reform will prevail nationally as he says Black lives are on the line.
“I just think that what we go through today, we’ll give back tomorrow,” he said. “So we’ll see.”
Derek Chauvin’s sentencing date is now set for June 16th. Chauvin faces a max sentence of 30 years in prison. But with no criminal history, Chauvin could be looking at 12 and a half years.