WASHINGTON — Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey marked the sixth anniversary of George Floyd’s death, claiming the city has changed dramatically in the time since, and rekindling a debate about racial justice.
“Today, we remember George Floyd, who was murdered by a former Minneapolis police officer six years ago. That moment changed our city forever,” Frey posted on X.
“It forced Minneapolis to confront painful truths about race, policing, inequity, and trust — and demanded hard conversations and accountability. Since Floyd’s murder, our city has been challenged not just to say we’ve changed, but to prove it.”
Floyd, a black man, had been confronted by ex-police officer Derek Chauvin for using a counterfeit $20 bill at a grocery store. After confronting him, Chauvin, who is white, pinned Floyd down to the ground with his knee on his neck for about nine minutes, captured in a disturbing video.
During that time, Floyd cried out, “I can’t breathe.”
A medical examiner deemed his death a homicide, directly caused by cardiopulmonary arrest — heart failure due to a lack of breathing. That examiner also found that his fentanyl intoxication and use of methamphetamine likely played a role in his death.
Floyd’s family hired a medical examiner who blamed his death on asphyxia and rejected the idea that drugs played a significant role in his death.
Chauvin is currently serving out a 22-and-a-half-year sentence after being convicted of second-degree manslaughter, unintentional second-degree murder, and third-degree murder.
“We’ve worked hard to reform policing, strengthen our department, and rebuild trust with neighbors – while knowing there is still more work ahead,” Frey added. “This anniversary also comes as reconstruction begins at George Floyd Square and work continues on the People’s Way.”
“The weight of what happened is still with our city six years later – and the responsibility to keep moving forward together is too,” the mayor concluded. “I know we can keep building a Minneapolis that is safer, more accountable, and more worthy of the people who call it home.”
Frey was mayor of Minneapolis at the time of Floyd’s death and during the upheaval that followed.
“At first I thought this had to be a parody. I thought no way this fruity ass mayor was possibly honoring George Floyd on Memorial Day… But here it is,” Fox News personality Tomi Lahren chided on X.
“George Floyd died from a Fentanyl overdose,” right-wing pundit Laura Loomer chimed in with a screenshot of the autopsy report. “Today, George Floyd is six years sober, and absolutely nobody misses that career criminal, drug addict, THUG. Here’s a page from his autopsy report.”
“Today we remember the veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedoms. Not drug addicts who overdosed,” Townhall.com columnist Dustin Grage jabbed.
“It changed your city, state and my country for the worse. Rioters on your side killed people and did billions in economic damage. And for what? Defunding police policies that have led to more people being killed,” reporter Andy Ngo fired back.
Frey went on to herald Memorial Day as well, praising it as “a time to remember the brave service members who gave their lives for our country and the freedoms we enjoy today.”
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