Chauvin’s murder conviction delivers sense of justice to Saskatchewan women

Some involved with Black Lives Matters rallies last year in Regina and Saskatoon are breathing a sigh of relief after former Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, was convicted this week in the murder of George Floyd.

Chauvin was convicted of second-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter and third-degree murder after he knelt on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes during an arrest on May 25, 2020.

Urewuchi Njoku in Regina and Natalya Mason in Saskatoon hope there is greater interest in and understanding of the experiences of people of colour going forward.

Njoku helped organize Black Lives Matter (BLM) rallies in the Queen City back in June. She hopes the guilty verdict will allow people to start healing.

“I feel like in the future now, situations like this, I feel that people will have more hope to get justice,” Njoku said.

“People are voicing their opinions more and situations are being more highlighted.

“It feels like there is more of a platform now for black individuals.”

Mason says there was so much built-up emotion for her leading up to the trial. She spoke at BLM rallies in Saskatoon.

“It was very emotional. I think that there had been so much stress built up over the last year, but really over a lifetime, of having to deal with racism,” Mason said.

“People thought there was a possibility that they were going to return a not guilty verdict.

“And so, seeing the thing that was meant to happen actually happen was surprising in so many different ways, but also a temporary relief.

“I think that this trial will hopefully encourage people to do a little self-reflection, learn a little bit more, and start to reflect on the ways that racism has been perpetuated and continues to be perpetuated for us in Saskatchewan.”

Chauvin’s sentencing will take place eight weeks from now.