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All eyes were on a Minneapolis courtroom Tuesday, where a jury delivered guilty verdicts on all counts against former police Officer Derek Chauvin, convicting him of the murder of George Floyd.

In Wyoming, local activists say theres still a long way to go until justice is really served.

Jimmy Simmons, vice president of the Pikes Peak Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the former president of the Casper NAACP, said the verdict surprised him.

Ive seen it so many times, the cop usually gets off, Simmons said. I was set for the jury to go the other way.

People in Casper are raising their voices to protest racism and police brutality. Here are six of their stories.

Simmons says since the summers protests, momentum for Caspers own conference chapter has grown. He said Tuesday that the Casper group is around 70 strong, but the pandemic has delayed starting an official chapter.

But one convicted officer in Minnesota doesnt mean the whole system is going to change, activists from the Laramie Human Rights Network said Tuesday. Around 1% of U.S. officers who kill someone on the job face charges, and just 0.3% are convicted, according to data from watchdog group Mapping Police Violence.

The verdict still means that George Floyd was murdered, Illyanna Saucedo said. Its better than Chauvin being acquitted, but that is a pretty low bar for seeking justice.

Jimmy Simmons holds his first in the air as tears fall down his face during the eight minutes of silence in honor of George Floyd on June 5 in Casper. Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who knelt on Floyd's neck for over eight minutes.

Karlee Provenza, executive director of Albany County for Proper Policing, said she heard from some locals Tuesday who compared the Chauvin case to that of Derek Colling, the Albany County Sheriffs deputy who shot and killed Robbie Ramirez in 2018. A grand jury declined to indict Colling, who was involved in two earlier deadly shootings while working in Las Vegas and now faces a civil lawsuit filed by Ramirezs family. The Laramie shooting prompted protests and calls for reform in Albany County.

Watching that (Chauvin) verdict, is it justice? No, not really, said Provenza, who is also a state representative out of Laramie. I think justice is stopping police use of lethal force before it happens rather than going through the punitive system.

Casper woman accuses police officer of excessive force

Provenza said change needs to come through legislation and local policy to stop similar events from happening again. Wyomings policing statutes have remained unchanged for nearly 50 years, and attempts at reform in the Legislature this year failed.

There are some areas opening up to change in Wyoming in Laramie, for example, the city is considering installing a civilian oversight board for its police department. It would be the first of its kind in the state.

That was something that the city of Laramie wasnt considering before George Floyds death, Provenza said. To have this national conversation come here and spark protests opened up an opportunity to get some of that oversight.

The large crowd gathered outside the Minneapolis courthouse where a judge read out the three guilty verdicts for Derek Chauvin in the murder of George Floyd erupted in celebration and tearful relief.

But Saucedo said the Laramie Human Rights Network has yet to see any concrete reforms by law enforcement in Albany County.

In Casper, activist Mariah Bovee said she had conversations with the police department last summer about how to make policing more transparent and weed out bad officers. She says she doesnt see it as an us versus them or police-versus-citizen issue, but a community issue where everyone has a stake.

Casper Police Chief Keith McPheeters declined to comment Tuesday.

Casper Police Chief Keith McPheeters marches alongside demonstrators honoring George Floyd on June 5 in Casper.

Bovee said Chauvins conviction is a step in the right direction, but she sees a lot of work that still needs to be done both in Wyoming and at the federal level. For a start, she said Wyoming needs to enact hate crime legislation (which also failed in the Legislature in March).

She cites issues with qualified immunity for officers, adding to a list of demands Bovee called for during a march in Casper last June in reaction to Floyds death including bias screenings, anti-racist and de-escalation trainings and citizen review boards.

Its going to take a cultural shift. Its going to be slow, but you have to keep at it, Bovee said. Im seeing some small shifts. Im very hopeful with our young people, because I think they are going to demand those changes.

Protesters raise their fits during eight minutes of silence honoring George Floyd at a vigil in Casper Friday, June 5.

Keisha Simmons stands at a podium delivering the final speech at a vigil for George Floyd in front of the Hall of Justice on June 5 in Casper.While many states are enacting police reforms, there appears to be little appetite for major changes in Wyoming.

Kailey Hardy poses for a portrait with a face mask bearing a red "x" over her mouth at a vigil for George Floyd in downtown Casper Friday, June 6.

Demonstrators stand in silence in honor of George Floyd Friday, June 5, in Casper.

Peaceful demonstrators march in silence along David Street towards the Hall of Justice for a vigil honoring George Floyd Friday, June 5, in Casper.

Demonstrators march along David Street towards the Hall of Justice for a peaceful vigil honoring George Floyd Friday, June 5, in Casper.

Hundreds gather in a parking lot in downtown Casper to take part in a march and vigil honoring George Floyd Friday, June 5.

Hundred gather in front of the Hall of Justice for a vigil honoring George Floyd Friday, June 5, in Casper.

During a moment of silence, demonstrators raise their fists in solidarity at a vigil for George Floyd in front of the Hall of Justice in Casper Friday, June 5.

Demonstrators raise their fists in solidarity during a moment of silence for George Floyd at a vigil in his honor Friday, June 5.

Shannon Burton, left, and Leah Ann Burton raise their fits along with hundreds of protestors during eight minutes of silence honoring George Floyd at a vigil in Casper Friday, June 5.

Armed civilians stand on the sidewalk watching a peaceful march along David Street towards the Hall of Justice for a vigil honoring George Floyd Friday, June 5.

Demonstrators hold signs and stand in solidarity at a peaceful vigil for George Floyd Friday, June 5, in Casper.

Silent demonstrators march along David Street towards the Hall of Justice passing a man holding up a Gadsden flag with his fist raised Friday, June 5, in Casper.

A group of armed civilians stand in the middle of David Street watching a vigil for George Floyd in downtown Casper Friday, June 5. The group declined to give their names or state their purpose for attending.

A young armed civilian walks along the periphery of a silent march down David Street towards the Hall of Justice for a vigil honoring George Floyd Friday, June 5. The armed civilian would not give his name but was among a group who stated their purpose for being present was to protect the First Amendment and keep the peace.

Amya Shropshire pose for a portrait wearing a shirt depicting Trayvon Martin at a vigil for George Floyd in Casper Friday, June 5. Martin was killed by George Zimmerman in Florida, Zimmerman was later found not guilty at a trial.

An upside down American flag is held aloft as demonstrators gather to walk in honor of George Floyd Friday, June 5, in Casper.

Keisha Simmons speaks at a vigil for George Floyd in front of the Hall of Justice in Casper Friday, June 5, while artist Josh Kravik holds up a photo collage depicting a portrait of Floyd.

Local artist Josh Kravik created a photo collage portrait of George Floyd using photos of other victims of police brutality and held it on display at the vigil for Floyd during a vigil in his honor in front of the Hall of Justice in Casper Friday, June 5.

Local artist Josh Kravik used photos of victims of police brutality to create a portrait of George Floyd on display at a vigil in his honor Friday, June 5, in Casper. Kravik used photos of graduations, celebrations and other uplifting images, "It was important to me that I only sourced pictured of people that were happy, not violence, said Kravik. This man may be why were all here but everyone that came before also needs to be remembered.

A demonstrator at a march and vigil for George Floyd wears a Guy Fawkes mask backwards Friday, June 5, in Casper.

Teagan Bizzell, 7, sits on her uncle, George Clam's shoulders at a vigil for George Floyd in Casper Friday, June 5. Bizzell and her sibling are both biracial adopted into a white family. Her mother said the reason she brought Bizzell to the demonstration, "I want them to know when they grow up that their voice will always be heard."

Stacy Mapp holds up a speaker while it plays "We are the World' as the demonstrators participating at a vigil for George Floyd arrive in front of the Hall of Justice on David Street in Casper Friday, June 5.

Shadows of protesters stretch to the steps of the Hall of Justice as they gather for a vigil honoring George Floyd Friday, June 5, in Casper.

Jimmy Simmons holds his first in the air as tears fall down his face during the eight minutes of silence in honor of George Floyd on June 5 in Casper. Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who knelt on Floyd's neck for over eight minutes.

Rosetta Jones wears a face mask with the words "we can't breathe" written as she attends a peaceful vigil for George Floyd in downtown Casper Friday, June 5. Jones said as she was walking on her way to the demonstration people in a truck yelled a racial slur at her. A group of fellow demonstrators who witnessed the event joined her and walked with her to the gathering for the march and vigil. "That's what this is about," says Jones, "I'll stand with you."

Hundreds gather on David Street in front of the Hall of Justice for a peaceful vigil honoring George Floyd Friday, June 5.

Casper Police Chief Keith McPheeters marches alongside demonstrators honoring George Floyd on June 5 in Casper. The City Council discussed the protests at its Tuesday evening meeting.

Teagan Bizzell, 7, sits on her uncle's shoulders as she raises her fist in solidarity during eight minutes of silence for George Floyd Friday, June 5, in Casper.

Isaiah Dobbins walks arm in arm with fellow demonstrators leading a march down David Street towards the Hall of Justice for a peaceful vigil for George Floyd Friday, June 6, in Casper.

Keisha Simmons speaks to a crowd of hundreds gathered in front of the Hall of Justice in Casper for a vigil honoring George Floyd on Friday. The group that organized the vigil, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, is looking to start a chapter in Casper.

Demonstrators gathered in front of the Hall of Justice to honor George Floyd are reflected in the windows of the building Friday, June 5, in Casper.

A man raises his first in solidarity at a vigil for George Floyd in downtown Casper Friday, June 5.

Armed civilians watch from the sidewalk as demonstrators who attended the vigil for George Floyd disperse from downtown Casper Friday, June 5.

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After conviction in Minnesota, Wyoming activists say there's more work to be done - KPVI News 6