After several months of protest against the murder of George Floyd by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, some measure of justice and closure has been served. Chauvin, who was captured on video kneeling on George’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds on the fateful day of May 25, 2020, has been sentenced to 22.5 years in prison.

Charges handed down by Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill include second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. The 22.5-year sentence is more than the state’s minimum guidelines but just short of prosecutors’ original request of a 30-year sentence.

Floyd’s family, including his mother Carolyn Pawlenty, his brother Terrence and his 7-year-old daughter Gianna, had the chance to speak out with their victim impact statements. Chauvin also addressed the court, saying “I want to give my condolences to the Floyd family.”

Civil Rights Activist and Attorney Benjamin Crump said the “historic” sentencing “brings the Floyd family and our nation one step closer to healing by delivering closure and accountability.”

“For once, a police officer who wrongly took the life of a Black man was held to account. While this shouldn’t be exceptional, tragically it is. Day after day, year after year, police kill Black people without consequence. But today, with Chauvin’s sentence, we take a significant step forward – something that was unimaginable a very short time ago.”

Chauvin has 60 days to appeal his sentence and the motion for a retrial that was denied. The other officers involved in George Floyd’s death, Tou Thao, Thomas Lane, and Alexander Kueng, are still awaiting their fates.