Pittsburgh reacts to verdict in trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin

PITTSBURGH — On Tuesday evening, people around the country prepared for the verdict to be announced in the Derek Chauvin Trial.

Chauvin is the former Minneapolis, MN police officer accused of murdering George Floyd in May 2020.

Floyd’s death fueled massive protests around the country, including in Pittsburgh.

UPDATE: 10:45 p.m. - Channel 11′s Rick Earle has learned Pittsburgh Police officers will remain on their normal schedules.

UPDATE: 9:15 p.m. - Pittsburgh public safety report the event has ended.

UPDATE: 9:05 p.m. - Pittsburgh public safety has provided another update.

UPDATE: 8:35 p.m. - Pittsburgh public safety just provided an update concerning tonight’s march.

UPDATE: 8:25 p.m. - Channel 11′s Amy Hudak reports the peaceful march has reached Pitt’s campus.

UPDATE: 7:45 p.m. - Pittsburgh Public safety just provided an update concerning tonight’s march.

UPDATE: 7:42 p.m. - Rep. Mike Doyle provided this statement through Twitter, concerning today’s events in Minneapolis.

UPDATE: 7:40 p.m. - Channel 11′s Amy Hudak reports the group is now walking down Forbes Ave. en-route to Schenley Park.

Also, U.S. Senator Pat Toomey provided this statement to Channel 11, following today’s verdict.

“Today, Derek Chauvin was convicted by a jury of his peers of the murder of George Floyd. My sympathies remain with the Floyd family. While nothing can cure the hurt the Floyd family lives with every day, I do hope this verdict brings them a degree of solace,” said Toomey.

UPDATE: 7:15 p.m. - Channel 11 is tracking a peaceful group of protesters gathering in downtown Pittsburgh following the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial.

UPDATE: 7:00 p.m. - The University of Pittsburgh posted this tweet following today’s verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial.

UPDATE: 6:45 p.m. - Allegheny Co. Executive, Rich Fitzgerald, provided this statement to Channel 11, following today’s verdict.

“I’m grateful that the jury in the Chauvin trial came back with a just verdict. All of America that saw the video of this was sickened by what happened. The evidence was simply overwhelming. While today’s verdict will not bring back George Floyd or reduce the pain that his family continues to endure, I hope that it can help ensure that other families will not have this same devastation or experience. I am hopeful that today’s verdict will spur conversations about what can and should be done in the way of reforms at a state and federal level, and that we see legislation that can be impactful and move us towards a time when incidents such as this one do not occur again,” said Fitzgerald.

UPDATE: 6:40 p.m. - Pittsburgh’s Roman Catholic Bishop, David Zubik, released this statement following the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial.

“Every human life is precious to God. The verdict in the George Floyd case is a declaration that we must all be committed to the protection of everyone in the community and that our communities are committed to justice. It is my prayer that this verdict is not an end, but an important step on the road to uprooting the sin of racism from our hearts and from our communities,” said Bishop Zubik.

UPDATE: 6:28 p.m. - Channel 11′s Amy Hudak is following a community gathering, following the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial.

UPDATE: 6:24 p.m. - Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro provided this statement to Channel 11, following the guilty verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial.

“Today’s conviction is one step of accountability on a long road toward justice. The failures of our system haunt our country’s history, from Dred Scott to Rodney King to Trayvon Martin, but we can write a new chapter. The mandate of equal justice under the law must be fulfilled each day and in each case. Let us resolve to continue our collective efforts to combat structural racism, in all its forms, and in all institutions so that we may achieve real and lasting justice. My heart is with all Americans experiencing pain and trauma tonight, and with the Floyd family, who will spend their lives missing George Floyd — their dad, their brother, and their friend,” Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania Attorney General.

UPDATE: 6:22 p.m. - University of Pittsburgh Basketball Coach Jeff Capel shared his thoughts on Twitter today, following the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial.

UPDATE: 6:15 p.m. - Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf released this statement following today’s announcement out of Minneapolis, MN.

UPDATE: 6:10 p.m. - Pat Narduzzi, Head Football Coach at the University of Pittsburgh, tweeted out this statement following the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial.

UPDATE: 6:05 p.m. - Duquesne University students and staff were sent this message from the university’s president, following the guilty verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial.

UPDATE: 6:02 p.m. - Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto released the following statement concerning the murder trial and guilty verdict in the case of Derek Chauvin.

“I was relieved to see that justice was served in the jury’s decision today finding Derek Chauvin guilty of all three charges in the horrific murder last year of George Floyd. But I also realize that no verdict can bring back a life or eliminate the pain the Floyd family and so many Americans — especially in our Black community — continue to feel. We cannot erase centuries of systemic racism, and our efforts to uplift and support our minority neighbors must continue today and for years to come,” said Mayor Peduto.

UPDATE: 6:00 p.m. - U.S. Senator Bob Casey released this statement to Channel 11, following the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial.

“This verdict is about accountability, but it is not justice. While Derek Chauvin will be held accountable for the murder of George Floyd, it’s not enough. Countless others have died at hands of police because of a broken system that must be reformed. My thoughts are with George Floyd’s family today. True justice will come when Congress passes the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and other measures to begin to right the wrongs created by systemic racism and injustice,” said Sen. Bob Casey, D-PA.

UPDATE: 5:35 p.m. - The Fraternal Order of Police have released a statement, following today’s news out of Minneapolis, MN.

“This is not an incident that involves Pittsburgh Police Officers, it’s policies, or tactics. Therefore, it would be inappropriate to comment on an incident that does not involved its’ officers or members of FOP Ft. Pitt Lodge #1,” Robert Swartzwelder, Fraternal Order of Police.

UPDATE: 5:30 p.m. - The Pittsburgh Penguins, as an organization, have released a statement concerning the outcome of the Derek Chauvin trial.

UPDATE: 5:25 p.m. - The Black Political Empowerment Project is holding a press conference in Pittsburgh, following the verdict being announced in the Derek Chauvin trial.

UPDATE: 5:15 p.m. - Following the guilty verdict of Derek Chauvin, community and political leaders in southwestern Pennsylvania are reacting.

UPDATE: 5:10 p.m. - Former Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin has been found guilty in the death of George Floyd.

UPDATE: 4:30 p.m. - People from around Pittsburgh, including members of the Black Lives Matter movement, plan on gathering at Pittsburgh’s Freedom Corner following the reading of the verdict.

Law enforcement agencies and community leaders tell Channel 11, they have prepared for today’s verdict and hope reaction will be peaceful.

Channel 11′s Rick Earle has learned Pittsburgh’s special response team is on standby.

This is a developing story. Stay with Channel 11 News, WPXI.com and our WPXI News app for continuing coverage.

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