The Police Murder of George Floyd

1,000+ in the Streets of Minneapolis in Protest

May 26, 2020 | revcom.us

 

Minneapolis, May 26, 2020. (Photo: AP)

 

On Tuesday, as the video of the police murder of George Floyd the day before became known, thousands of angry protesters filled the streets of Minneapolis. A little after 5:30 p.m., people began marching from near where Floyd was killed to the 3rd Precinct building two miles away. People chanted “I can’t breathe” and called for swift prosecution of the murdering cops. According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, “At one point, protesters pelted a line of police SUVs with water bottles and other items, shattering the windows.” WCCO TV reported that police in riot gear “started making a barrier around the precinct at about 7:30 p.m. as protesters began to swarm.” There were reports of police using tear gas and pepper spray against the people.

Elsewhere in the country, about a hundred people spontaneously gathered in Emancipation Park in Houston’s Third Ward for several hours Tuesday evening. George Floyd had grown up in the neighborhood and attended nearby Yates High. People marched around the park, and some took over a lane of Emancipation Avenue. One man told a reporter, “Fuck serve and protect. They’re here to kill and destroy.”

In Chicago, there was a Justice for George Floyd protest in front of the police headquarters. The Revolution Club was part of the action.

Some celebrities have spoken out. Among them: Retired NFL player Donte Stallworth tweeted out the video of the murder of Floyd and wrote, “Why NFL Players Kneel: Reason 1 Million.” NBA star LeBron James echoed that message with an Instagram post that had two pictures side-by-side: one of the cop kneeling on Floyd’s neck, and the other Colin Kaepernick kneeling at the playing of the national anthem at a 49ers game in protest of murder of Black people by police. Responding to Democratic Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar’s call for an “investigation,” actor Rosanna Arquette tweeted, “What occurred is one of your police officers murdered him in broad daylight while people watched. He needs to be charged with murder.”

Minneapolis, May 26, 2020. (Photo: AP)

Minneapolis, at the police precinct, May 26, 2020. (Photo: AP)

Chicago, May 26, 2020. (Photo: twitter)