Murder of George Floyd

"George Floyd" redirects here. For the football player, see George Floyd (American football). For other uses, see George Floyd (disambiguation).

Killing of George Floyd

In this frame from a video taken by a witness, police officer Derek Chauvin kneels on Floyd's neck.
Date	May 25, 2020 (2020-05-25)
Time	c. 8:01–9:25 p.m. (CDT, UTC−05:00)
Location	Minneapolis, Minnesota
Coordinates	44.9343°N 93.2624°W / 44.9343; -93.2624
Suspects	Minneapolis Police Dept: Derek Chauvin Tou Thao Thomas Lane J. Alexander Kueng
Charges	Second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter (Derek Chauvin) Aiding and abetting second-degree murder (Tou Thao, Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng)
Verdict	Pending
Location of Minneapolis, where the incident took place, in Hennepin County and in the state of Minnesota.

On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died in Minneapolis, Minnesota after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, pressed his knee to Floyd's neck for almost nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed face down in the street; two other officers further restrained Floyd and another stood by and prevented onlookers from intervening. During the last three minutes, Floyd was motionless and had no pulse, but officers made no attempt to revive him. Floyd was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

Floyd was being arrested on suspicion of passing a counterfeit $20 bill at a market. Police said Floyd physically resisted arrest. Security camera footage from a nearby business did not show Floyd resisting. The criminal complaint stated that, based on body camera footage, Floyd repeatedly said he could not breathe while standing outside the police car, resisted getting in the car and intentionally fell down; he went to the ground face down and, after Chauvin placed his knee, Floyd repeatedly said "I can't breathe", "Mama", and "please". Several bystanders took videos, all of which were widely circulated and broadcast. While knee-to-neck restraints are allowed in Minnesota under certain circumstances, Chauvin's usage of the technique has been widely criticized by law enforcement experts as excessive. At two points, the police officer that was holding Floyd's legs asked to roll Floyd on his side. All four officers were fired the following day.

Two autopsies determined the manner of Floyd's death to be homicide. The Hennepin County medical examiner's autopsy found that Floyd died from cardiac arrest while being restrained by officers who had employed "neck compression", with significant conditions "arteriosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease; fentanyl intoxication; and recent methamphetamine use". An independent private autopsy commissioned by Floyd's family found that the "evidence is consistent with mechanical asphyxia as the cause" of death, with neck compression restricting blood flow to the brain, and back compression restricting breathing.

The FBI is conducting a federal civil rights investigation at the request of the Minneapolis Police Department. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is also investigating. On May 29, Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for Floyd's death, with Hennepin County attorney Michael O. Freeman saying he anticipated that charges would be brought against the other three officers. On June 3, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison stated that Chauvin's murder charge would be upgraded to second degree murder and that the other three officers involved would be charged with aiding and abetting second degree murder.

After Floyd's death, demonstrations and protests against racism and police brutality were held globally. Protests in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area were initially peaceful on May 26, and became violent as a police precinct and two stores were set on fire, and many stores were looted and damaged. Some demonstrators skirmished with police, who fired tear gas and rubber bullets. Additional protests developed in over 400 cities throughout all 50 American states and internationally. Floyd's death has been likened to the 2014 death of Eric Garner, an unarmed black man who repeated "I can't breathe" while placed in a chokehold by a police officer in Staten Island, New York.

Persons involved

George Floyd in his Facebook profile picture from 2016

• George Perry Floyd was a 46-year-old black man who was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and raised in the Third Ward of Houston, Texas. He attended Yates High School, where he played on the basketball and football teams. He attended South Florida Community College from 1993 to 1995 and played on the school's basketball team. Floyd returned to Houston and entered the local hip hop scene as an automotive customizer; he joined the hip hop group Screwed Up Click and rapped under the stage name Big Floyd. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Floyd was charged with armed robbery in 2007, and in 2009 took a plea deal to be sentenced to five years' imprisonment. In 2014, Floyd moved to Minnesota in search of employment and a new life. He took on two jobs: working as a truck driver and as a restaurant security guard at Conga Latin Bistro. He worked at the restaurant for five years, but lost the job due to Minnesota's stay-at-home order during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was the father of two daughters, ages six and 22, who remained in Houston, and an adult son in Bryan, Texas.

• Derek Michael Chauvin, age 44, had been an officer in the Minneapolis Police Department since around 2001. Chauvin had 18 complaints on his official record, two of which ended in discipline from the department, including official letters of reprimand. He had been involved in three police shootings, one of which was fatal. According to former club owner Maya Santamaria, Floyd and Chauvin both worked as security guards and had overlapping shifts at the Latin nightclub, El Nuevo Rodeo. She said Chauvin had worked there for 17 years, while Floyd had worked at about a dozen events. She said it was not clear if they knew each other but that she did not believe so. Santamaria said Chauvin had sometimes used overaggressive tactics when dealing with black clientele, responding to fights by spraying the crowd with mace, a tactic she told him was "overkill".

• Tou Thao, age 34, attended the police academy in 2009 and was hired to a full-time position with the Minneapolis police in 2012 after being laid off for two years. Six police conduct complaints had been filed against Thao, none resulting in disciplinary action. In 2014, Thao was accused of brutality when his arrest of an African-American man resulted in the man's broken teeth and hospitalization. The victim said he had been handcuffed without cause, and was then thrown to the ground and "punched, kicked, and kneed", and humiliated. The resulting excessive-use-of-force lawsuit was settled out of court for $25,000.

• Thomas K. Lane, age 37, and J. Alexander Kueng, age 26, were licensed as law enforcement officers in August 2019. Neither had prior complaints on their records.

Arrest and death

The intersection of Chicago Avenue and E. 38th Street on May 30. Floyd was killed just left of the Cup Foods.

External videos
George Floyd Death on YouTube, as filmed by a bystander (10:00)
Security camera footage on YouTube (5:47)

Arrest

On the evening of Monday, May 25, 2020, Floyd purchased a pack of cigarettes at Cup Foods, a store at the intersection of East 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in the Powderhorn Park neighborhood of Minneapolis, located in the south-central area of the city, 8.6 miles northwest from Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport. A store employee believed Floyd had paid with a counterfeit $20 bill.

Just before 8:00 p.m., two Cup Foods employees left the store and crossed the street to an SUV parked in front of a restaurant. Floyd was in the driver's seat, and two adult passengers were in the vehicle. The employees demanded that Floyd return the cigarettes, and he refused. The interaction was filmed by the restaurant's security camera. At 8:01 p.m., a store employee called 9-1-1 to report that Floyd had passed "fake bills" and was "awfully drunk" and "not in control of himself."

At 8:08 p.m., Lane and Kueng briefly entered Cup Foods, then crossed the street to Floyd's SUV. Lane drew his gun and ordered Floyd to put his hands on the steering wheel; Floyd complied and Lane holstered his weapon. Someone parked behind Floyd's SUV began recording a video at 8:10 p.m. Following a brief struggle, Lane pulled Floyd from the SUV, handcuffed him, and told him he was being arrested. At 8:12 p.m., Kueng sat Floyd on the sidewalk against the wall in front of the restaurant.

Officers' assault on Floyd

At 8:13 p.m., an officer brought Floyd to his feet and walked him across the street to the sidewalk in front of Cup Foods. Floyd fell to the ground next to a police car parked at the curb; officers picked him up and placed him against the car's door. According to prosecutors, Floyd told the officers he was claustrophobic and couldn't breathe. A Minneapolis Park and Recreation police officer arrived and guarded Floyd's vehicle (across the street by the restaurant) and the two people who had been in it with Floyd.

At 8:17 p.m., a third police cruiser arrived, with MPD officers Derek Michael Chauvin and Tou Thao. They walked over to assist Lane and Kueng. Around 8:18 p.m., security footage from Cup Foods shows Kueng struggling with Floyd for at least a minute in the driver's side backseat while Thao watches. A criminal complaint filed against Chauvin alleges Floyd refused to enter the car, even after officers moved him from the driver's side to the passenger side. At 8:19 p.m., standing on the passenger's side of the vehicle, Chauvin pulled Floyd through the backseat, from the driver's side to the passenger's side, and out of the car, causing Floyd to fall onto the ground, where, still handcuffed, he lay on the pavement. Floyd stopped moving around 8:20 p.m.

Multiple witnesses began to film the encounter; their videos were circulated widely on the internet. At 8:20 p.m., a bystander at the Speedway gas station across the intersection began recording video on their phone showing Floyd face down on the pavement with Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck, Kueng applying pressure to Floyd's torso, and Lane applying pressure to Floyd's legs, while Thao stood nearby. Floyd can be heard repeatedly saying "I can't breathe", "please, please, please", and "please, man", and calling for his mother. The bystander stopped filming when one of the officers told him to walk away.

Also at 8:20 p.m., a second person, standing near the entrance of Cup Foods, began recording the incident. According to The New York Times, these two videos show Floyd telling officers he can't breathe at least 16 times in less than five minutes. At one point a bystander said, "You got him down. Let him breathe." After Floyd said, "I'm about to die," Chauvin told him to "relax". The police ask Floyd, "What do you want?"; Floyd answered, "I can't breathe." Floyd states: "Please, the knee in my neck, I can't breathe."

At approximately 8:22 p.m., the officers called for an ambulance, initially on a non-emergency basis; they later escalated the call to emergency status. Chauvin continued to kneel on Floyd's neck. A passerby yelled to Floyd, "Well, get up, get in the car, man," and Floyd, still handcuffed and face down on the pavement, responded, "I can't," while Chauvin's knee remained on his neck. Floyd cried out, "Mama!" twice. Floyd said, "My stomach hurts, my neck hurts, everything hurts", requested water, and begged, "Don't kill me." One bystander points out that Floyd was bleeding from the nose. Another told the officers that Floyd was "not even resisting arrest right now". Thao countered that Floyd was "talking, he's fine", a bystander replied that Floyd "ain't fine". The bystander protested, "Get him off the ground ... You could have put him in the car by now. He's not resisting arrest or nothing. You're enjoying it. Look at you. Your body language." (Chauvin's hand appeared to be in his pocket, but in fact his gloved hand was resting on the leg of his trousers, which were similarly colored to his gloves.) As Floyd continued to cry for help, Thao said to bystanders, "This is why you don’t do drugs, kids."

By 8:25 p.m., Floyd appeared unconscious, and bystanders confronted the officers about Floyd's condition, urging them to check his pulse. Kueng checked Floyd's wrist but could not find a pulse; the officers did not move. The officers did not attempt to provide Floyd with any medical treatment. According to the criminal complaint against Chauvin, Lane asked Chauvin twice if they should move Floyd onto his side, and Chauvin said no. A bystander asks, "Did they fucking kill him?"

Medical attention

At 8:27 p.m., a Hennepin County ambulance arrived. Shortly thereafter, a young relative of the owner of Cup Foods attempted to intervene, but was pushed back by Thao. The emergency medical technicians (EMTs) checked Floyd's pulse. Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd's neck for almost a minute after the EMTs arrived, despite Floyd appearing unresponsive.

Around 8:28 p.m., after being told to do so by EMTs, Chauvin lifted his knee off of Floyd's neck, having kept it there for eight minutes and forty-six seconds, according to the criminal complaint against Chauvin. Around 8:29 p.m., a motionless Floyd was placed on a stretcher and loaded into the ambulance, which left the scene and headed to Hennepin County Medical Center, calling the Minneapolis Fire Department for additional medical assistance en route.

At 8:32 p.m., the fire department arrived at the scene. According to the fire department's report, the police officers gave no clear information regarding Floyd's condition or whereabouts, which delayed their ability to assist the ambulance. Meanwhile, the ambulance carrying Floyd again called for assistance from the fire department, asking them to meet at the corner of 36th Street and Park Avenue, and reporting that Floyd was going into cardiac arrest. Five minutes later, the fire department reached the ambulance. Two fire department medics who boarded the ambulance described Floyd in their report as unresponsive and pulseless.

Floyd was pronounced dead at 9:25 p.m. at the Hennepin County Medical Center emergency room, according to the incident report.

Other videos

A video of the incident from a different angle showed "three officers have Floyd pinned on the ground, while another stands over him", reported CBS Evening News. The Wall Street Journal described it as "three officers are seen sitting on" Floyd.

The Minneapolis Park Police Department released heavily-redacted footage from the body camera worn by one of their officers, who was 118 feet away from the scene of Floyd's death. One officer reassures the two passengers from Floyd's car that an ambulance was coming, and tells them to "stay put".

As of May 31, the footage from Lane and Kueng's body cameras have not been released, but has been turned over to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Aftermath

On the morning after Floyd's death, before the videos of Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck had gone viral, the Minneapolis Police Department issued a statement alleging that Floyd resisted arrest. Later that day, Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo announced that the four officers were placed on leave, and ultimately fired.

On May 27, false claims about Chauvin began to circulate on social media. Particularly prominent were claims that a photograph shows Chauvin wearing a "Make Whites Great Again" hat and that Chauvin appeared onstage with President Donald Trump at a rally; both claims were false.

Autopsies

Hennepin County medical examiner findings

On May 26, 2020, an autopsy was performed on Floyd by the Hennepin County medical examiner.

On May 29, the criminal complaint against Chauvin was publicly released by the Hennepin County Attorney's Office. With the full report of the Hennepin County medical examiner yet to be released at the time, the criminal complaint instead cited "preliminary findings" by the Hennepin County medical examiner. The complaint cited preliminary results that the autopsy "revealed no physical findings that support a diagnosis of traumatic asphyxia or strangulation", but found that Floyd suffered from coronary artery disease and hypertensive heart disease. The complaint cited the autopsy's speculation that the "combined effects of Mr. Floyd being restrained by the police, his underlying health conditions and any potential intoxicants in his system likely contributed to his death."

On June 1, the Hennepin County medical examiner issued the autopsy's "final findings", which classified Floyd's death as a homicide, caused by "a cardiopulmonary arrest while being restrained" by officers who had subjected Floyd to "subdual" and "neck compression". It noted other "significant conditions": arteriosclerotic heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, fentanyl intoxication, and recent methamphetamine use.

Private autopsy

On May 29, Dr. Michael Baden said that he had been retained by Floyd's family to carry out a private autopsy on Floyd. Baden is a pathologist and a former New York City chief medical examiner who had also conducted a second autopsy on Eric Garner. On May 30, Floyd's family's legal team confirmed that they had hired Baden and also Dr. Allecia Wilson to conduct an autopsy. Wilson is the director of autopsy and forensic services at the University of Michigan Medical School.

On May 31, a private autopsy commissioned by Floyd's family was conducted. On June 1, Wilson said the finding of the private autopsy that the "evidence is consistent with mechanical asphyxia as the cause" of Floyd's death, and that the death was a homicide. Baden said that Floyd died from "asphyxia due to compression of the neck", which affects the "blood flow and oxygen going into the brain", and also from "compression of the back, which interferes with breathing". Baden said that Floyd "had no underlying medical problem that caused or contributed to his death", and he also said it was "not true" that being able to talk shows that someone could breathe properly.

State criminal charges

Chauvin was arrested on May 29, Hennepin County attorney Mike Freeman charged him with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, making him the first white officer in Minnesota to be charged for the death of a black civilian. Under Minnesota law, third-degree murder is defined as causing another's death without intent to kill, but "evincing a depraved mind, without regard for human life". Second-degree manslaughter also does not imply lethal intent, but that the perpetrator created "an unreasonable risk" of serious harm or death.

On May 31, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison took over the case at the request of Governor Tim Walz. On June 3, Ellison stated that Chauvin would also be charged with unintentional second-degree murder, and that the other three officers involved would be charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder. The other three officers were charged the same day. A second-degree murder charge carries a higher maximum sentence and ordinarily requires prosecutors to prove that the perpetrator killed their victim intentionally, although it can also mean that the murder took place while the perpetrator was committing certain other felonies. Minnesota's sentencing guidelines call for a twenty-five-and-a-half-year sentence for intentional second-degree murder, and twelve and a half years for unintentional.

A statement from Floyd's family and their lawyer, Benjamin Crump, welcomed the upgrade in Chauvin's murder charge, describing it as "source of peace for George’s family", but reiterated their previous call for a first-degree charge, which requires proof that the murder was premeditated and carries a potential life sentence.

Federal law enforcement response

On May 26, the FBI announced it was reviewing the incident. On May 28, the United States Department of Justice released a joint statement with the FBI, saying they had made the investigation into Floyd's death "a top priority". They said they had assigned experienced prosecutors and FBI criminal investigators to the matter, and outlined the investigation's next steps: a "comprehensive investigation will compile all available information and thoroughly evaluate evidence and information obtained from witnesses ... If it is determined that there has been a violation of federal law, criminal charges will be sought." The Wall Street Journal categorized this statement from the Justice Department as "notably strong", given that the department "often takes a more muted tone in describing continuing investigations".

Memorials and protests

Main articles: George Floyd protests and List of George Floyd protests

An "I CAN'T BREATHE" sign in reference to Floyd's final words

Protesters at the site, May 26

Protesters march, May 26

Terrence Floyd, George Floyd's brother visits the location where his brother was killed, June 1

Memorial items left near where the incident occurred, May 27

Damaged building after protests, May 28

In the wake of community outrage in Minneapolis, the place where Floyd died in front of the store and the surrounding area became a makeshift memorial throughout May 26, with many placards paying tribute to him and referencing the Black Lives Matter movement. As the day progressed, more people showed up to demonstrate against Floyd's death. The crowd, estimated to be in the hundreds of people, then marched to the 3rd Precinct of the Minneapolis Police. Participants used posters and slogans with phrases such as "Justice for George", "I Can't Breathe", and "Black Lives Matter".

The protests were initially peaceful until Minneapolis police sent plainclothes police officers to vandalize stores and incite violence, with protesters responding by vandalizing the 3rd Precinct by breaking windows and lighting fires. This led to police officers in riot gear using tear gas and flash grenades on the protesters, while some protesters threw rocks and other objects at the police. The police also used rubber bullets and smoke bombs against the protesters. The media has highlighted the apparent differences in aggression between the police response to black protesters in these protests versus the more measured response to the 2020 United States anti-lockdown protests featuring gun-wielding white protesters. This sentiment also spread on social media.

Those protests later became violent, which continued for days. As of June 2, the Star Tribune estimated 308 businesses across the Twin Cities region had been vandalized or entirely destroyed, including 41 in Minneapolis and 3 in St. Paul "destroyed by fire."

Following protests, a nighttime curfew in Minneapolis–Saint Paul and Dakota County was established on May 29. 500 Minnesota National Guard soldiers were later dispatched to the area to enforce the curfew, but to little effect, with about 1,000 protesters being able to march peacefully on Interstate 35 well into curfew.

The family of Floyd announced on June 2, a public memorial to be held on June 8 at The Fountain of Praise Church in Houston. A private service will be held at an undisclosed location on June 9. According to the statement released by the family, former professional boxer Floyd Mayweather will pay for the services. The same day another public memorial service, this time held at North Central University on June 4, was announced. Reverend Al Sharpton will deliver the eulogy. The retired American boxer Floyd Mayweather has offered to cover the costs of George Floyd's Funeral services, the Family of George Floyd has accepted the offer.

Protests against police brutality and the death of Floyd sprang up in more than 100 cities, including New York City; Los Angeles; Toronto; Mashhad; Milan; Columbus, Ohio; Denver; Des Moines; Houston; Louisville; Memphis; Charlotte, North Carolina; Oakland; Portland, Oregon; San Jose; Seattle; outside the White House in Washington; outside Chauvin's summer home in Windermere, Florida; and in many other locations. On May 30, 12 states (including Minnesota) called up the National Guard, and at least 12 major cities imposed curfews on Saturday night.

$20 bill

Law enforcement officials have not helped reporters determine whether Floyd's $20 bill was or was not counterfeit. The New York Times interviewed Angel Stately, a former employee, who said the store clerk had shown her the bill prior to it being taken as evidence by the police. She told reporters she regarded it as an "obvious fake" because "[t]he ink was still running."

Reactions

Further information: George Floyd protests

Family and friends

Floyd's cousin and two brothers were interviewed by CNN. His cousin, Tera Brown, criticized the police, saying, "They were supposed to be there to serve and to protect and I didn't see a single one of them lift a finger to do anything to help while he was begging for his life." One of his brothers echoed the sentiment, saying, "They could have tased him; they could have maced him. Instead, they put their knee in his neck and just sat on him and then carried on. They treated him worse than they treat animals." Floyd's brother, Philonese, called for peace and said, "Everybody has a lot of pain right now, that's why this is happening, I'm tired of seeing black people dying."

Floyd's longtime friend, former professional basketball player Stephen Jackson, expressed anger and sadness, saying video of Floyd's death "just destroyed me".

Floyd's girlfriend asked for the community to respond to his death in a way that honors him. She said: "You can't fight fire with fire. Everything just burns, and I've seen it all day – people hate, they're hating, they're hating, they're mad. And he would not want that."

Floyd's uncle, Selwyn Jones, told the Rapid City Journal: "The thing that disturbs me the most is hearing him call for my sister." Jones also said he expressed disgust about the video to his wife before he knew the identity of the victim. He also spoke out at a memorial rally in Rapid City, South Dakota, near where he lives.

Political

Minneapolis and Minnesota

Minneapolis City Councillor Andrea Jenkins, who represented Ward 8, where Floyd's death occurred, was quoted as saying, "My heart is breaking for the tragic loss of life last night near 38th and Chicago. Our community continues to be traumatized again, and again and again. We must demand answers." Governor Tim Walz, in a press conference on the morning of May 29, said "we have to restore order" before actions can be taken to serve justice and address the issues which caused Floyd's death. Walz also announced that he had activated the National Guard. The day prior, Walz used the National Guard to quell the unrest resulting from Floyd's death.

Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey said, "Being black in America should not be a death sentence. For five minutes, we watched a white officer press his knee into a black man's neck ... When you hear someone calling for help, you're supposed to help. This officer failed in the most basic, human sense." The day after Floyd's death, the Mayor called the termination of the responding officers "the right call". Two days after Floyd's death, Mayor Frey highlighted the racial nature of Floyd's death, and called for Chauvin to be criminally charged: "If most people, particularly people of color, had done what a police officer did late Monday, they'd already be behind bars. That's why today I'm calling on Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman to charge the arresting officer in this case." In an interview with CBS that evening, Frey was asked: "Do you think that was murder?" He replied: "I do."

Representative Ilhan Omar, of Minnesota's 5th congressional district (which includes Minneapolis), called for a federal investigation, saying, "It is sickening to watch this black man be killed while helplessly begging for help." She later added, "The police officer who killed George Floyd should be charged with murder." Senator Tina Smith and Governor Tim Walz also called for immediate action. Senator Amy Klobuchar reacted on the following day, saying, "We heard his repeated calls for help. We heard him say over and over again that he could not breathe. And now we have seen yet another horrifying and gut wrenching instance of an African American man dying." She called for the declaration on "a complete and thorough outside investigation into what occurred, and those involved in this incident must be held accountable". However, as a former Hennepin County attorney, she was criticized for declining to press criminal charges against police during her eight years in that office, including against Chauvin; some called for her resignation from the Senate.

Federal

President Donald Trump sent his condolences two days later via Twitter, saying he requested that the FBI conduct a thorough investigation. He added, "My heart goes out to George's family and friends. Justice will be served!"

Trump also described Floyd's death as "sad and tragic". He sparked controversy following the publication of a tweet on May 29 that read, "These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won't let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!" A week later, on June 1, President Trump threatened to deploy the military to stop the protests if state could not manage them by invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807.

Former U.S. president Barack Obama published a statement through Twitter calling for a "new normal" that ends the legacy of institutional racism. Former U.S. president George W. Bush and his wife, Laura Bush, issued a statement that they are "anguished by the brutal suffocation of George Floyd and disturbed by the injustice and fear that suffocate our country."

U.S. ambassadors in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, and China expressed concern and condemnation of the killing.

International

The British Labour Party's MPs Claudia Webbe and David Lammy criticized the death of Floyd. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that racism was real and existed in both the United States and Canada. He then urged Canadians to stand up against it.

Michelle Bachelet, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, condemned it as yet another killing of unarmed African-Americans, and called on the United States to take "serious action" and end the repeat of such killings. She also urged protestors to "express their demands for justice peacefully" and for police to refrain from further use of excessive force.

Countries criticized by the United States for violations of human rights used the incident to criticize the U.S. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia said the United States had a history of systemic human rights abuse. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan blamed Floyd's death on a "racist and fascist approach" by the United States and said Turkey will be monitoring the issue. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran, retweeted a tweet saying people with dark skin faced being killed "in the next few minutes" if they walked out on American streets.

African Union officials, including the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat, criticized the killing. U.S. embassies in Africa also condemned the incident, in a move that was described by the media as unusual.

The Dalai Lama, in India while teaching students, condemned the killing of George Floyd by saying, "there are some who even take it as a pride to be able to kill somebody."

The Foreign Ministry of China denounced the killing of George Floyd with the statement: "The death of George Floyd reflects the severity of racial discrimination and police brutality in the US".

Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, said the block is "shocked and appalled" by the death of black American George Floyd in police custody, calling it “an abuse of power” and warning against further excessive use of force.

On 3 June, the Finnish Member of the Parliament for the Finns Party, Ano Turtiainen, mocked Floyd on his Twitter account. The tweet showed an image of suffocating George Floyd with his face colored pink and the phrase "Pink Floyd".

Pope Francis addressed Floyd's death during his weekly prayer at the Vatican on 3 June. "Dear brothers and sisters in the United States, I have witnessed with great concern the disturbing social unrest in your nation in these past days, following the tragic death of Mr. George Floyd." Then added, “We cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human life.”

Police

State and local

The local police union expressed support of the officers involved, saying, "The Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis will provide full support to the involved officers." They also urged the public to remain calm, saying, "Now is not the time to rush to judgement and immediately condemn our officers." Bob Kroll, President of the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis, called Floyd a "violent criminal" and said that protesters were terrorists. Kroll was denounced by the Minnesota AFL–CIO, the Minneapolis branch of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers for his comments on Floyd's death, with all three organizations calling for his resignation.

The Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association applauded Minneapolis Chief Arradondo's swift firing of the officers involved.

National

Police across the country were sharply critical of Chauvin's actions. Leaders from organizations which include hundreds of thousands of police officers condemned the four officers' conduct. National Association of Police Organizations Executive Director William Johnson called the incident egregious, and said, "I don't know the entire story, but I can't see any legal justification, any self-defense justification, or any moral justification." Fraternal Order of Police President Patrick Yoes said authorities must ensure justice is served in Floyd's death, "whatever the consequences".

Police chief associations from across the country expressed dismay at Floyd's treatment. The heads of both the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA) condemned what was seen on the video. The MCCA, led by Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, said, "The death of Mr. Floyd is deeply disturbing and should be of concern to all Americans. The officer's actions are inconsistent with the training and protocols of our profession and MCCA commends Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo for his swift and decisive action to terminate the employment of the officers involved." The National Police Foundation President said, "These actions, and inaction, jeopardize the gains that have been made through the sacrifices and courage of many."

Leaders of individual police departments from around the United States spoke out against the officer at the center of the video, with what The Washington Post called "disgust", and the Los Angeles Times called "blunt criticism". The Los Angeles Times said: "It was a rare moment when police leaders were unequivocal in their public disdain for the conduct of one of their own." Leaders condemning the officer's actions included the New York City Police Commissioner, the Sheriffs of Los Angeles and San Diego counties, and the Police Chiefs of Los Angeles, Boston, Miami, Houston, and Austin, as well as a former Police Chief from Seattle. Police chiefs of smaller cities spoke out as well: Chiefs of Police from Buffalo Grove, Illinois; Tucson, Arizona; Round Rock, Texas; the University of Texas at Austin; Pflugerville, Texas; and Omaha, Nebraska; all issued statements against Floyd's treatment.

A deputy sheriff in Jones County, Mississippi was fired for posting on social media: "If he can scream he can breath [sic], something else was going on."

Academia

Experts on the use of force by police condemned Chauvin's actions. Mylan Masson, a longtime Minneapolis police officer and former director of the Hennepin Technical College's Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Center, which instructs approximately half of Minnesota's police officers, said a form of the technique seen in the video of Floyd's death was taught until at least 2016. He added, "Once the [officer] is in control, then you release. That's what use of force is: you use it 'til the threat has stopped." George Kirkham, a former police officer and professor emeritus at Florida State University's College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, said, "It was outrageous, excessive, unreasonable force under the circumstances. We're dealing with a [suspected] property offender. The man was prone on the ground. He was no threat to anyone." Seth Stoughton, an associate professor of law at the University of South Carolina, who was also a former police officer, said that placing suspects lying face-down with their hands handcuffed behind their backs for a long period of time was dangerous because it risked positional asphyxia. If an officer places their knee on a suspect's neck in this position, it could cause injury or even death.

Institutions

The University of Minnesota announced that it would be limiting ties with the Minneapolis Police Department, and that it would no longer contract the local police department for assistance at major events. The Minneapolis School Board passed a resolution at its meeting on June 2, 2020, terminating its relationship with the Minneapolis Police Department.

Criticisms of neck restraints

Minneapolis police officers have a record of administering neck restraints at least 237 times since the beginning of 2015. This includes 44 people who were rendered unconscious. Several law enforcement professionals said the number of unconscious individuals as a result of this maneuver seems remarkably large. Neck restraints are defined by police as "when an officer uses an arm or leg to compress someone's neck without directly pressuring the airway."

The use of the choke hold maneuver known as a "neck restraint" has been derided by more than a dozen law enforcement officials, who were interviewed by NBC News. The news organization provided a summation of their views: "the particular tactic Chauvin used – kneeling on a suspect’s neck – is neither taught nor sanctioned by any police agency." A Minneapolis city official said, "Chauvin's tactic is not permitted by the Minneapolis police department." In general, police departments' application of assorted types of neck restraints, described as choke holds, are decidedly circumscribed – if not plainly illegal. The Minneapolis Police Department’s policy and procedure manual prohibits the application of neck restraints when the subject is passively resisting but in other narrowly circumscribed circumstances authorizes the application of neck restraints "that can render suspects unconscious" while classifying them as " 'non-deadly' force options" for officers trained in their use, but only to the sides of the neck.

Applying a knee to the neck of a person lying on their stomach is widely rejected by law enforcement professionals because doing so can kill. At the same time, keeping a person in a prone position, with hands cuffed behind his back is meant to be of very short duration and is seen as dangerous because breathing is immediately restricted in that position. "Someone in that position can draw enough breath to gasp or speak in spurts, but they can't breathe fully, so they gradually lose oxygen and fall unconscious." The individual has to be quickly rolled on his side, sat up, or stood up. Pressure on a detainee's neck can "cause fatal damage" so the maneuver must be monitored closely for the well-being of the detainee. According to the Minneapolis department's manual, specialized training is required to use this maneuver. According to Minneapolis police policy, this maneuver can only be used as a last resort when there is no other way to subdue a suspect who is belligerently resisting arrest. Chauvin's actions may have exceeded his purview.

See also

• Human rights in the United States
• List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States
• Police brutality in the United States

External links

• Complaint – State of Minnesota v. Derek Michael Chauvin, Minnesota District Court, Fourth Judicial District, File No. 27-CR-20-12646. May 29, 2020.
• Press Release Report: Floyd George Perry, Case No: 2020-3700. Hennepin County Medical Examiner. June 1, 2020.