Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has openly called for the arrest of the former police officer who knelt on George Floyd’s neck.
Floyd was arrested by officers on Monday, May 25, after they responded to a call of forgery in progress. Footage captured by a bystander shows one of the officers involved in the arrest kneeling on Floyd’s neck as he lay prone on the ground in handcuffs.
Floyd repeatedly begged the officer to move his knee, saying he couldn’t breathe. He soon lost consciousness and police confirmed he later died in hospital.
Backlash following his death has rightly been fierce. The four police officers who arrested him have been fired, but there are calls for them to face harsher punishments. Mayor Jacob Frey himself is pressing for Derek Chauvin – the officer who knelt on Floyd’s neck – to be arrested.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, May 27, Frey said:
“Why is the man who killed George Floyd not in jail? If you had done it or I had done it, we would be behind bars right now, and I cannot come up with a good answer to that question.
“I’m calling on the Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman to act on the evidence before him. I’m calling on him to charge the arresting officer in this case. We cannot turn a blind eye. It is on us as leaders to see this as it is and call it what it is.”
George Floyd’s family have also stated their belief that Chauvin should be arrested. Bridgett Floyd, George’s sister, told NBC’s Today show that all four officers deserve to be arrested and charged with murder.
The FBI have launched an investigation into Floyd’s death, but many feel that as though the footage captured during his arrest speaks for itself.
Indeed, we can only hope that the men responsible for Floyd’s murder receive the proper justice.
Rest in peace, George Floyd, the world will never forget you. We pray that his death can provide an opportunity for us to change the glaringly obvious flaws in our system.
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