Microsoft calls the Derek Chauvin verdict 'a step forward'

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Microsoft logo (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • Microsoft President Brad Smith shared a statement on the Derek Chauvin verdict.
  • Chauvin was convicted of two counts of murder and one count of manslaughter in the death of George Floyd.
  • The statement calls the verdict "a step forward in acknowledging painful truths and for the continued cause of defeating racism and fighting discrimination."

Tuesday night, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of two counts of murder and one count of manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. Since news of the guilty verdicts came out, politicians, celebrities, and organizations have shared their thoughts on the case.

Microsoft President Brad Smith shared an official statement from Microsoft on the Derek Chauvin verdict on Microsoft's blog:

Our nation has a long journey ahead before it establishes the justice and equity that Black Americans deserve. The murder of George Floyd is a tragedy and a crime, and no jury can bring him back to life or reverse the pain and trauma experienced by his family and still felt across the country and around the world. Today's verdict is a step forward in acknowledging painful truths and for the continued cause of defeating racism and fighting discrimination. Our company remains committed to the continued path ahead.

In the statement, Smith links to another Microsoft blog post on addressing racial injustice. That post discusses three areas that Microsoft will focus on; increasing its representation and culture of inclusion, engaging with its ecosystem to extend societal change, and strengthening black and African American communities with the power of data, technology, and partnerships.

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Sean Endicott
News Writer

Sean Endicott is a News Writer at Windows Central, where he covers Windows 11, Surface hardware, Microsoft 365, AI, apps, and the broader PC ecosystem. Since joining the site in 2017, he has written well over a thousand articles across the Microsoft landscape, covering breaking news, analysis, and feature reporting.

He writes Windows Wrap, a weekly column covering the biggest stories in Windows and the PC industry, and what they mean for the platform going forward.

Before joining Windows Central full-time, Sean worked in journalism and media production after earning a First Class degree in Broadcast Journalism from Nottingham Trent University. Outside of tech, he is an award-winning American football coach based in Nottingham, England, and was named BAFCA Youth Coach of the Year in 2024.