ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Dozens of people gathered in front of the Minnesota governor’s mansion on Saturday to hold police officers accountable, days before a former Minneapolis official is expected to die in George Floyd’s death.
Many of the approximately 150 people who protested in Minnesota were relatives of others who died during police rallies. Similar protests have been held in cities across the country ahead of the trial of Derek Chauvin.
Floyd, a Black man, died on May 25 after Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck while Floyd was held in handcuffs with his face down on the ground, saying he could not breathe. According to prosecutors, the time stamps on the camera indicated on the camera that Chauvin had held his post for about nine minutes, even after Floyd stopped moving. Floyd was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter and the selection of juries 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 confrontations. The Star Tribune reported that speakers said that in light of Floyd’s death, they wanted other fatal police meetings to be reopened and investigated.