Update (6/4/20):
A step toward justice has been made in the death of George Floyd.
Minneapolis police office, Derek Chauvin was arrested May 29 on 3rd-degree murder charges and manslaughter. Yesterday (June 3), the charges were upgraded to 2nd-degree murder. Chauvin, as you may remember from the video, is the cop with his knee pinned against George Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds.
The other 3 former officers, Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng, and Thomas Lane have also been arrested and charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder.
These updates came after Attorney General Keith Ellison took over the case.
One of the attorneys representing the Floyd family, Benjamin Crump says that this is a “bittersweet moment” for the family and released an official joint statement from them and the legal team:
“We are deeply gratified that Attorney General Keith Ellison took decisive action in this case, arresting and charging all the officers involved in George Floyd’s death and upgrading the charge against Derek Chauvin to felony second-degree murder.”
Watch Ellison’s full statement on the charges below:
If you missed the earlier article, read below for more background on the video that shocked America.
In a video that has now gone viral, Minneapolis police arrested George Floyd and held him down with a knee to his neck. “I can’t breathe, officer,” Floyd yells in the clip, while the officer responds, “You’re a tough guy? A tough guy, huh?”
You can also hear a bystander in the clip exclaim, “how long you gotta hold him down?…he is human bro.”
The FBI and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension have been called in to investigate after the man died at a nearby hospital.
A police department spokesperson, John Elder, said the man cooperated with the officers, but later “resisted.” He also says that “at no point were weapons of any kind used.” The Star Tribune also reports that all 4 officers involved have since been fired.
In a press conference this morning, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey says, “being black in America should not be a death sentence.”
He also addresses the clip, “what I saw was wrong at every level. This does not reflect the values that [Police] Chief Arradondo has worked tirelessly to instill. It does not represent the training we invested in or the measures we’ve taken to ensure accountability.”
Another man gone too soon at the hands of those who are enlisted to serve and protect, we will continue to keep his loved ones lifted during this time.
See Also:
Another Senseless Shooting, Police Kill 26-Year-Old Breonna Taylor In Her Home
Oprah Winfrey Surprised Ahmaud Arbery’s Mother On His Birthday With A Gift & THIS Message
