Celebrities and lawmakers have welcomed the conviction of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, who was found guilty on all counts in the brutal murder of African-American George Floyd.

The 46-year-old black man died on Memorial Day after he was pinned down by the white police officer in Minneapolis during his arrest. Chauvin, 45, was fired from service. He was charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. A 12-member jury in Minnesota on Tuesday found Chauvin guilty on all three charges.

Responding to the verdict, former President Barack Obama said the jury in Minneapolis did the right thing. “True justice is about much more than a single verdict in a single trial,” he added. The verdict today is a “necessary step” toward progress, according to Obama.

“Hallelujah!!!!!!!!” ,” tweeted Mariah Carey. “A beginning.. a small grain of hope for our future.”

Cardi B confined her reaction in a single word on Twitter – “History.”

“And how many Derek Chauvin’s are there in the world & on the police force. There’s more than ONE bad apple. But this enough for this moment,” said actress Yvette-Nicole Brown.

“A guilty #verdict. But this fight for justice is not over. We have a lot of work to do. There is more fight ahead of us,” Kerry Washington wrote on Twitter.

“Rest in JUSTICE George Floyd,” tweeted Katy Perry.

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