What was George Floyd Convicted Of?
George Floyd, an African American man, became a symbol of police brutality and racial injustice in the United States after his tragic death in 2020. The incident that led to his death occurred on May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. During an arrest for a minor offense, Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin. The question that has been on the minds of many is what was George Floyd convicted of before his death. This article aims to shed light on the events leading up to Floyd’s conviction and the subsequent public outcry that followed.
In April 2020, George Floyd was arrested by the Minneapolis Police Department for a minor offense of possessing counterfeit currency. The arrest was sparked by a 911 call reporting a possible forgery at a local store. During the arrest, Floyd was subdued by police officers, including Derek Chauvin, who was the officer responsible for Floyd’s death. The officers restrained Floyd and pinned him to the ground, with Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes, despite Floyd’s repeated cries for help and pleas that he could not breathe.
The incident was captured on video by a bystander, and the graphic footage quickly went viral, sparking widespread protests and a national conversation about police brutality and racial injustice. The video showed Floyd struggling to breathe, with Chauvin’s knee on his neck, and other officers failing to intervene. Floyd was eventually pronounced dead at the hospital, and Chauvin was charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and manslaughter.
What was George Floyd convicted of? Initially, Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. However, the charges were later upgraded to second-degree murder and manslaughter following the release of the video evidence. The charges against Chauvin were significant, considering that police officers are often charged with lesser offenses or even exonerated in cases of excessive force or fatal encounters.
The conviction of George Floyd and the subsequent conviction of Derek Chauvin were significant milestones in the fight against police brutality and racial injustice. The case brought attention to the need for police reform and the importance of addressing systemic racism in the United States. The public outcry and protests that followed Floyd’s death led to a national conversation about the need for change and sparked a movement that continues to advocate for justice and equality for all.
