Gov. Walz Proclaims ‘Moment’ Of Silence For George Floyd

Kim DavidPublished: May 25, 2021

ST PAUL, MN - MARCH 19: Children help carry a portrait of George Floyd outside the Minnesota State Capitol building as activists gather on March 19, 2021 in St Paul, Minnesota. This morning Judge Peter Cahill rejected motions for change of venue and continuance by the defense of former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin, who is accused of killing George Floyd last May. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

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St Paul (KROC AM News) - Minnesotans are being asked by Gov. Tim Walz to remember George Floyd on this one year anniversary of his death.

He issued a proclamation Monday “asking Minnesotans for a moment of silence at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday for 9 minutes and 29 seconds to honor Floyd who was murdered by Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis.”

Facebook/Darnella Frazier

The 9 minutes 29 seconds is the amount of time prosecutors say the former cop had his knee on Floyd’s neck before he became unresponsive.

Here is the proclamation:

“George Floyd’s murder ignited a global movement and awakened many Minnesotans and people around the world to the systemic racism that our Black communities, Indigenous communities, and communities of color have known for centuries. On April 20, 2021, a jury found Derek Chauvin guilty of George Floyd’s murder. This historic verdict was a step in the right direction, but our work to dismantle systematic racism and discrimination has not ended. True justice for George Floyd will come only through real, systemic change to prevent acts like this from happening again—when every member of every community, no matter their race, is safe, valued, and protected.”

Meanwhile, members of the Floyd family - including his daughter Gianna - will be guests of Pres. Biden at the White House Tuesday afternoon.

News update: A Minnesota DNR officer was killed Monday "in the line of duty."

Timeline: George Floyd's Death, Protests, Riots, Arrests, and Chauvin Trial

It was late afternoon on Memorial Day, 2020 and many Minnesotans had observed the normally active weekend hunkered down because of the growing pandemic.

George Floyd drove to a grocery store in Minneapolis and bought some cigarettes. He was accused by employees of making the purchase with a counterfeit $20 bill and police were called. Floyd was still there in his vehicle when two officers arrived. About 10 minutes later, Chauvin and another officer showed up and the situation began to escalate. Chauvin began kneeling on Floyd's neck as he was facedown on the street. Despite repeated pleas from Floyd and a growing crowd of bystanders to remove his knee, Chauvin continued as if frozen in position with no facial expression.

After more than 8 minutes, Chauvin finally stood up and Floyd had become unresponsive. An ambulance was called and a short while later, it was reported Floyd was dead.

A video of the incident slowly spread on social media around the state, the country and the world. Viewers literally watched a man slowly die, repeating "I can't breathe."

The now historic response began the following day.

Source: Gov. Walz Proclaims ‘Moment’ Of Silence For George Floyd

Filed Under: George Floyd, Gov. Tim Walz, Minneapolis

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