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(Washington, DC) – A federal grand jury on Friday indicted Derek Chauvin and three other former Minneapolis officers for civil rights violations related to their role in the murder of George Floyd. Following a year of nationwide protest against racial injustice and police brutality, the federal indictment charges the four ex-officers with violating Floyd’s right to be free from unreasonable seizure and excessive force. The following is a statement from Damon Hewitt, acting president and executive director with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law:

“The federal civil rights charges against the officers responsible for the brutal, public death of Mr. Floyd are a step in the right direction in acknowledging the grave loss for the Floyd family and providing accountability for racist policing and police brutality.

“The continued killings of unarmed Black people by law enforcement exemplifies just how far our nation must progress to achieve equality and justice for all. While prosecutions do not bring our loved ones back, they do send the strong signal that we are moving toward an era of meaningful accountability and that these needless deaths will not continue to go largely unanswered.

“Accountability only works when it is systemic, not only in one case.  That’s why we must push for passage and implementation of comprehensive, justice-driven solutions including passage of the strongest provisions in the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which will make it easier for federal civil rights charges to be brought whenever circumstances warrant.”