ST. PAUL, Minnesota (AP) – Dozens of people gathered outside the Minnesota governor’s house on Saturday to demand accountability from police officers, days before a former Minneapolis officer was due to face the death of George Floyd.
Many of the approximately 150 people who demonstrated in Minnesota were relatives of others who died in police encounters. Prior to the Derek Chauvin trial, similar protests were staged in cities across the country.
Floyd, a black man, died on May 25 after Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck while Floyd was held face down on the floor with handcuffs to say he couldn’t breathe. Video timestamps of body cameras provided by prosecutors show Chauvin was in his position for about nine minuteseven after Floyd stopped moving. Floyd was later pronounced dead in a hospital.
Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter, and jury selection in his trial begins Monday.
Saturday’s protest in Minnesota was organized by Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence, a coalition of families who lost loved ones in police clashes. The Star Tribune reports that speakers said that in light of Floyd’s death, they want other fatal police encounters to be reopened and investigated.