GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Organizers gathered in downtown Grand Rapids on Tuesday shortly after a jury found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all three counts for killing George Floyd nearly a year ago.
Justice for Black Lives (JFBL) gathered at the corner of Monroe Center, which has been honorarily named Breonna Taylor Way. Taylor, who was born and raised in Grand Rapids, was shot and killed by Louisville police in her apartment last March. JFBL successfully petitioned for the street designation to honor Taylor in her hometown.
JFBL formed and organized over the last year in protest of police killings and brutality following the death of Floyd, who died after Chauvin put his knee in Floyd's neck for over eight minutes on May 25.
"It's a good thing we have justice for George Floyd, but we still have to get justice for so many others," said JFBL president Aly Bates.
Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter after about 10 hours of deliberation over two days.
JFBL vice president Danny Santiago spoke at the JFBL gathering, emphasizing that the work is not over yet.
"It is up to us to keep going. It's fantastic the system finally acknowledged that. But there's a lot of families who haven't had that acknowledgement yet. It's up to us to get that," said Santiago.
Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Payne also offered his reaction to the verdict, saying Chauvin's actions were not characteristic of police nationwide.
"Today in Minneapolis we saw a process where justice was served," Payne said. "Every law enforcement department has to look itself in the mirror."
GRPD and the activists did not interact during the peaceful march.
The group marched in the city before returning to Breonna Taylor Way.
RELATED VIDEO: GRPD Chief Eric Payne speaks after Chauvin verdict
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.