Chauvin verdict met with happiness and hope in downtown Columbus
Within an hour of when word came that a jury had found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all three charges against him in the death of George Floyd, people began gathering on a street corner in Downtown Columbus in celebration.
By 6:30 p.m., what began as one lone man waving a “Black Lives Matter” flag had grown to a group of a little over a dozen, with more slowly joining the gather. People who were walking Downtown were pleased with the verdict, and motorists honked their horns in solidarity.
Live updates:Derek Chauvin found guilty on all counts in the murder of George Floyd
Victoria Kalinoski-Dubose, 27, grew up in the Twin Cities and even traveled back to her hometown near Minneapolis last summer after Floyd’s death to march in protests. She then returned to Columbus in June, where she and her husband Mike Kalinoski continued to be part of racial justice marches.
The Downtown couple heard the verdict over the radio as they were driving, and when they saw that people had gathered near the Ohio Statehouse, they decided to join them.
“I think some people don’t realize how African-American people are treated by the justice system,” said Kalinoski-Dubose, who is Black. “We were excited to celebrate and have other people celebrate with us.”
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Just after 5:30 p.m., David Berkley, 55, held aloft a flag that was half an American flag and half a Black Lives Matter flag as he stood in front of Tim Horton’s at Broad and High Streets. The sight of the flag billowing in the wind seemed to become a rallying point for others who came with makeshift signs.
Berkley, who lives Downtown, said he decided to go out and start waving his flag as soon as the verdict came in.
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“I knew I was going to be nervous, but for them to come back this quickly it had to be a guilty verdict,” Berkley said.
Berkley, who is gay and was wearing an “Equality” T-shirt, said he marched in some racial injustice protests last summer.
“It’s just a tragedy what’s happening to Black men in this country. Police are just murdering them,” he said.
Berkley said he hopes the verdict sends a message to police and is a turning point signaling positive change.
Leanna Rocheleau, 34, was Downtown with her partner, 29-year-old Danielle Berger, when the verdict was announced.
“It’s a good first step,” said Rocheleau, of Clintonville. “I wasn’t sure which way it was going to go, but I was hoping for the first step in an historic movement.”
Rocheleau, who is white and a member of the LGBQT community, said she was hoping for a guilty verdict in support for the Black community, “a fellow marginalized community.”
Babou Dime, 46, of Detroit, who was visiting family for Ramadan and is a native of Mali in west Africa, has been following the trial and was pleased by the verdict.
“Whatever is wrong should be corrected so we can have a better nation for the future,” Dime said. “There are a lot of issues the country is dealing with regarding racism and citizens are suffering the consequences.”
Dime, who was waiting for a bus on South High Street in front of the Franklin County Courthouse, said the verdict shows “the law will stand on anybody. The law should be held up.”
Don Sellers, 60, a Black man from Linden wearing a “I can’t Breathe” T-shirt, said he watched the verdict on TV with his mother and his wife at home. He said “tears came” when it was announced.
He then decided to come down to be a part of the celebratory atmosphere.
Sellers talked about how he lived through the Civil Rights era and he sees a lot more white people involved in the racial justice fight now.
“It gives you hope now that we can come together and get stuff done,” Sellers said. “Justice has been served.”
Dispatch reporter Mark Ferenchik contributed to this report.
@EricLagatta
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