SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) released the following statement in response to the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trail:

“We must acknowledge that since the inception of this nation, our justice system has and continues to fail millions of Black Americans each day. Collectively, we have a tremendous amount of work ahead of us. Although the system still doesn’t work for millions, this afternoon it worked for one. Today’s verdict is a testament to what we can accomplish when we stand together as the United States of America, when we make our voices heard and demand change, when we refuse to accept the status quo. While the promise of liberty and justice for all has yet to be fulfilled, today’s news represents the progress we have made toward a more just nation."