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After Chauvin verdict, business leaders speak out saying fight for racial justice must continue

  • Some of the country's top CEOs and business leaders shared their reactions to the Derek Chauvin verdict on Twitter and Facebook and in letters to employees.
  • Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, was found guilty on all three charges in the murder of George Floyd.
  • Last spring, Black Lives Matter protests pushed companies to make their own pledges to advance racial equity and support police reform.

People raise their fists and hold a portrait of George Floyd during a rally following the guilty verdict the trial of Derek Chauvin on April 20, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia.Elijah Nouvelage | AFP | Getty Images

In tweets, corporate statements and letters to their employees, some of the nation's top business leaders are expressing relief at the guilty verdict in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the murder of George Floyd. They are also calling for the country to continue to fight against systemic racism and for police reform.

Chauvin was found guilty of all three charges, including second-degree murder and third-degree murder, on Tuesday.

Last spring, Floyd's murder catalyzed Black Lives Matter protests across the country and the globe. A video taken by a teenage bystander, Darnella Frazier, outside of a Minneapolis convenience store, showed Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for about nine minutes. In Floyd's final moments, he struggled to breathe and called out for his mother.

As protestors marched in the streets, companies faced scrutiny for their own records on racial equity. They were pushed to do more than simply put out statements — prompting a series of corporate commitments from overhauling how companies recruit and hire Black employees to backing mandatory deescalation training for police.

Here is a round-up of reactions to the Chauvin verdict by business leaders and companies, in alphabetical order:

American Airlines

"There are countless examples of violence against Black men and women that don't end this way. In the past year, a number of brutal and senseless murders of Black Americans – from Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor to Daunte Wright and many others – remind us of the stark reality and persistence of systemic racism in our country. They sparked anger, awareness and dialogue; but not the change needed to address injustice in our communities and institutions. As an airline, we bring people of all races, ethnicities and backgrounds together every day."

"We believe Black lives matter. We know there is more work to do to achieve racial justice and equity in our society, and we remain committed to the journey."

— Excerpts from a letter sent to employees Tuesday night by American Airlines executives, CEO Doug Parker, President Robert Isom and Cedric Rockamore, vice president of global people operations and diversity and inclusion

Apple

— Tim Cook, Apple CEO, said on his personal Twitter account

Best Buy

"While this verdict in the murder of George Floyd symbolizes some measure of progress toward racial equity and accountability, it does not fully erase our nation's history of systemic and institutional racism. We still have a long way to go in our fight for racial justice in this country, and Best Buy's unwavering commitment to this work is as strong as ever."

— Statement from Best Buy

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