After a Minnesota jury found former police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all counts in the murder of George Floyd last May, the Houston Rockets issued a statement of support later Tuesday evening.
“While no verdict will ever bring back Houstonian George Floyd, justice and accountability were served today at a courthouse in Minnesota,” the organization wrote in a statement posted to social media. “We continue to keep the Floyd family in our thoughts during this time.”
The team’s official statement continues:
Tilman Fertitta and the entire Houston Rockets organization will remain committed and vigilant in using our platform to fight systemic racism and to promote social justice and equality for all people.
Last June, a peaceful march involving more than 60,000 people and members of Floyd’s family went through downtown Houston, with a goal of raising awareness for the issues involved. A few days later, Floyd’s memorial service and funeral were held in Houston.
In the aftermath of those events, Fertitta — who owns the Rockets — vowed to use his platform as a billionaire businessman to help find a solution to issues related to racism and police brutality.
Additional coverage of the verdict is available at usatoday.com.
An early look at Wednesday's paper:
– Minneapolis ex-officer convicted on all 3 counts of killing George Floyd in May. Reactions outside the courthouse and across the nation
– A glimpse into what justice into policing looks like after this momentous occasion pic.twitter.com/7iqoAuCEbi— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) April 20, 2021
