On May 25, 2020, the now former police officer of the city of Minneapolis, in the state of Minnesota, Dereck Chauvin, murdered African-American George Floyd, pressing his knee into his neck for more than 9 minutes.
“I’m scared, man.” “I can’t believe this, Mom. I love you. I love you. Tell my kids I love them,” “I can’t breathe” were some of Floyd’s last words before he stopped breathing.
Since that time, the community has not stopped fighting to reunite and work together.
“We remember that day. The pain that we Americans have. I mean, the effect that happened to us as our neighborhood changed. At first, it was a united community, but it changed the district, it closed, and things that were happening here slowly changed,” Reggie mentioned to Enlace Latino NC.
Reggie is part of the Agape movement located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Broken relationship with police and local authorities
“George’s story is not only a tragedy but also a story of resilience and hope. His death sparked a global movement for racial justice as millions of people took to the streets to demand change,” mentions one of the signs at the George Floyd public memorial, the site where he was killed.
“There is no relationship with either the police or local authorities. They (Police) don’t hold space with us in a positive way. They become aggressive, which will cause what happened before,” Reggie said.
“It’s the same routine they’ve been doing forever,” he noted.
The legend of the North Wilkesboro Moonshine Cave
George Floyd Memorial, a powerful symbol
The memorial honoring George Floyd, located at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in south Minneapolis, has become a gathering place to honor and remember him.
The memorial, commonly known as George Floyd Square, pays tribute to George Floyd’s life and has become a powerful symbol conveying the importance of the lives of the African American community in Minneapolis.
“What is George Floyd’s legacy? I think it has to do with unity, loyal agape love. We must dispense that love and that loyalty to ourselves in our community. You can always keep falling into this,” he said.
The George Floyd memorial, located at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in south Minneapolis/ELNC 
The George Floyd memorial, located at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in south Minneapolis/ELNC 
The George Floyd memorial, located at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in south Minneapolis/ELNC 
The George Floyd memorial, located at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in south Minneapolis/ELNC 
The George Floyd memorial, located at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in south Minneapolis/ELNC 
The George Floyd memorial, located at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in south Minneapolis/ELNC 
National Debate on Race, Police, and Justice
Terrance Ruth, a professor at NC State University, told Enlace Latino NC that after the tragic death of George Floyd, “we have witnessed a seismic shift in the national debate about race, policing, and justice.
“As a community leader and advocate for social justice, I have seen firsthand the ripple effects of this pivotal moment,” he said. “The outcry that followed Floyd’s death was not just a momentary expression of grief and anger; it became a catalyst for a broader movement demanding systemic change.”
Ruth said that there then followed a surge of awareness and solidarity around the world where people from all walks of life took to the streets, not only in the U.S. but around the world, to protest systemic racism and police brutality.
“This groundswell of support led to tangible changes, including the implementation of police reforms in various cities and the removal of symbols of oppression. It was a clear message that the status quo was no longer acceptable,” he explained.
“Road to justice, long and fraught with resistance”
Ruth shared that reflecting on the years since that fateful day, it must be recognized that the road to justice is long and fraught with resistance.
“While some police departments have embraced reform, others have faced backlash, and the initial momentum has met with political and social obstacles,” he explained.
“The fight for racial equity and the dismantling of systemic barriers continues, and it requires our persistent commitment and action,” he said.
Reaction
Terrance Ruth recalls that at the forefront of this reaction, K-12 education witnessed and embraced a fight over critical race theory and library books.
The teacher commented that people accused public schools of indoctrinating students and parents.
“School board meetings became the main focus of geopolitical attention, with groups organizing to fire school superintendents, recruit school board members, and influence local policies that engage race.”
He analyzed, “Local elections have become more critical with debates over police funding, public school indoctrination, and neighborhood safety.”
Honoring the memory of George Floyd
Ruth stressed that as we move forward, “let us honor George Floyd’s memory by continuing to push for meaningful change.”
“It is incumbent upon us to keep the conversation alive, hold our institutions accountable, and work tirelessly towards a future where everyone is treated with dignity and respect,” he remarked.
“The journey is far from over, but together, we can forge a path towards a more just and equitable society. If we are to be successful in fighting, then we need to mobilize voters for local elections,” he concluded.
Guilty of use of ‘excessive force’
On May 25, Minneapolis police officers arrested George Floyd, a 46-year-old African-American man, after a store clerk called 911 and told police that Floyd had purchased cigarettes with a counterfeit $20 bill.
Following the incident, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced charges of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter against Derek Chauvin a few days after the fact.
Chauvin, 45, in April 2021, was found guilty after the jury found that Floyd died as a result of excessive force when the ex-cop placed his knee on his neck for more than nine minutes.
In June of that year, the ex-cop was sentenced to 22 1/2 years on state charges of accidental manslaughter, unintentional manslaughter with disregard for life, and unintentional manslaughter in the commission of felony murder for the May 2020 death of George Floyd.
Chauvin was transferred in August 2022 from Oak Park Heights Prison in Minnesota to FCI Tucson in Arizona, a federal medium-security facility, to serve his sentence.
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Después de la tormenta
Hace un año, el huracán Helene golpeó al oeste de Carolina del Norte. La comunidad latina respondió con algo más fuerte que la tormenta: solidaridad.
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