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George Floyd's girlfriend Courteney Ross cries after Derek Chauvin verdict: 'God is good. He proved that today'

Ross addressed the media outside the Hennepin County Courthouse along with Floyd's family, where she broke down in tears

As the nation celebrated, Courteney Ross wept. George Floyd's girlfriend failed to hold back her tears while addressing the media outside the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis on April 20. Shortly after Judge Peter Cahill read the jury's verdict, the nation erupted in cheers and celebrations. Even Floyd's family appeared relived, remembering the hip-hop artist with some of their favorite memories.

Speaking to the media, an emotional Ross had plenty to say. "God is good. He proved that today", she said, before adding, “Minneapolis needed it. I can’t thank you enough. Floyd can’t thank you enough. His spirit is here. We've been walking around with eyes wide shut for too long." Describing herself as "overwhelmed" with the verdict, she also shared some insights into her relationship with Floyd. She said he loved Minneapolis because "it was so diverse." It was clearly a topic the two disagreed on.

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Ross told the media, "I warned him about that because although we’re so diverse we’re also divided. We live in one of the most diverse cities and yet we are segregated across this city in little pockets." She added, "Floyd would not forget those who were forgotten. There are so many people out here who need our attention. People who have served time, people who struggle with addiction, people that do struggle with mental illness. They are who we need to focus on, we need to support them and love them. They need us and that’s what Floyd would do".

However, she warned those listening that the verdict wasn't the end of the road, and that there was "so much work left to do". Ross called for cases to be reopened because "we need to bring justice to everyone". The verdict against Chauvin is just one of the few cases of a White police officer facing the severest form of punishment. Washington Post data found that on average 1,000 people are killed each year by the police, but only a handful ever make it to trial, of which even fewer result in a guilty verdict. 

Ross wasn't the only one with tears in her eyes though. Floyd's sister LaTonya too seemed to be unable to hold back her emotions in a video posted on Twitter. 

 

Ross 'seems like a beautiful soul'

As the nation united over the verdict, Ross found plenty of support from those on social media. One person tweeted, "George Floyd's girlfriend, Courteney Ross, just said it best on national television. We have reparations to make, older police murder cases should be re-opened. We need to hold more murderers accountable."

"So many were clearly traumatized but stepped forward anyway, thank you Courteney Ross" another said. One retweeted a video of Ross and called it "purpose through pain. Powerful words"

Another user tweeted, "George Floyd’s girlfriend Courteney Batya Ross struck a balance so many of us find ourselves in—we love this Land, and we care deeply about the ideals of Freedom and Justice for all, but we often see the gaps between the sacred ideal and the brutal reality." One person said, "Courteney Ross, George Floyd’s girlfriend, seems like a beautiful soul and light."

Ross also gave several interviews to other journalists outside the courthouse. The verdict has received strong support from a wide range of activists and Democratic politicians as well. Former President Obama said in a statement, "while today's verdict may have been a necessary step on the road to progress, it was far from a sufficient one." Even President Biden called for greater reforms in light of the verdict, pushing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.