George Floyd
Sunday marked five years since the murder of George Floyd, a Black man whose death under the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, ignited a global movement demanding justice, accountability, and an end to systemic racism in policing.
On May 25, 2020, Floyd’s final words — “I can’t breathe” — became a rallying cry for millions. The incident, captured in a harrowing video by a bystander, led to nationwide protests and the largest civil rights demonstrations in the U.S. since the 1960s.
This weekend, Minneapolis held a series of solemn events and community gatherings to commemorate Floyd’s life and reflect on the changes — and challenges — that have followed. Family members, activists, and city officials gathered at George Floyd Square, the now-iconic intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue where Floyd was killed, to honor his memory with music, speeches, prayers, and a call to recommit to justice.
“We gather not just to mourn, but to move,” said Angela Harrelson, Floyd’s aunt, during a vigil on Sunday evening. “George’s legacy is not just about what happened to him — it’s about the movement that was born in his name.”
The city of Minneapolis has seen both symbolic and tangible shifts in the years since Floyd’s death. Chauvin was convicted of murder in 2021 and is serving a 22.5-year prison sentence. The other three officers involved were also convicted or pleaded guilty to federal and state charges. The city agreed to a $27 million civil settlement with Floyd’s family.
Calls for police reform led to the banning of chokeholds in Minneapolis, expanded use of body cameras, and the creation of the Office of Community Safety. However, a ballot measure to replace the Minneapolis Police Department with a new public safety agency failed in 2021, revealing deep divisions over the pace and direction of reform.
Still, community leaders say the fight for justice continues.
“Five years later, the pain remains, but so does the power of the people,” said activist and former city council member Jeremiah Ellison. “We’ve seen some steps forward, but accountability and transformation require sustained effort.”
Across the nation, Floyd’s death helped spark a reckoning in workplaces, schools, and city halls, pushing issues of racial equity and police violence to the forefront. But many advocates say much work remains, especially as incidents of police brutality continue to make headlines.
As the city paused to remember Floyd on Sunday, candles flickered along murals and memorials, and church bells rang 9 times — one for each minute and 29 seconds that Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck.
“George Floyd changed the world,” said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. “Now it’s up to us to make sure that change lasts.”
The commemoration closed with a moment of silence and a community pledge to keep pushing for justice — not only for George Floyd, but for all lives impacted by police violence.
