The trial of Derek Chauvin -the former police officer charged with the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis- is officially underway after the killing sparked nationwide protests and civil unrest in cities across the United States.
“The former Minneapolis police officer charged with killing George Floyd went on trial Monday, with prosecutors promptly showing the jury the video of Derek Chauvin pressing his knee on the Black man’s neck for several minutes as onlookers yelled at Chauvin to get off and Floyd gasped that he couldn’t breathe,” reports the Associated Press.
“In opening statements, prosecutor Jerry Blackwell told the jury that the number to remember was 9 minutes, 29 seconds — the amount of time Chauvin had Floyd pinned to the pavement with his knee last May in the case that triggered scattered violence and a national reckoning over racial injustice,” adds the AP.
“He put his knees upon his neck and his back, grinding and crushing him, until the very breath — no, ladies and gentlemen — until the very life was squeezed out of him,” the prosecutor said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
BIDEN: Death of George Floyd Had Greater ‘Worldwide Impact’ than MLK Assassination
Former Vice President Joe Biden continued his gaffe-filled campaign Thursday; telling reporters the death of George Floyd had a greater “worldwide impact” than the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King.
“Even Dr. King’s assassination did not have the worldwide impact that George Floyd’s death did!” said Biden.
https://twitter.com/politicalshort/status/1271171517599174659?s=21
Watch Biden’s comments above.
BREAKING NOW: Minneapolis Officer’s Murder Charge UPGRADED, 3 Others Charged in Killing of George Floyd
Fired Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s charge will be upgraded to 2nd Degree Murder Wednesday, according to Fox News and other sources, adding the other 3 officers who were present during George Floyd’s death will also be charged.
“Chauvin will now be charged with second-degree murder, The Star Tribune first reported. The other three officers involved — Thomas Lane, J.A. Kueng and Tou Thao – will be charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder,” reports Fox News.
BREAKING: Attorney General Keith Ellison to elevate charges against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin to second-degree murder; three other officers to be charged with aiding and abetting murder, sources say. https://t.co/NTBkdBH4Oo
— Star Tribune (@StarTribune) June 3, 2020
“We expect all of the police officers to be arrested before we have the memorial here in Minneapolis tomorrow. Because we cannot have two justice systems in America – one for black America, one for white America. We must have equal justice for the United States of America,” said the attorney for the Floyd family.
Read the full report at Fox News.
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