George Floyd Essay: “I really wanted to help”



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It is the second day in the trial of the former white cop kneeling on George Floyd’s neck. A firefighter who was there describes: The police had refused to help the dying man.

Photo series with 14 images

In the trial of a former white American police officer for the violent death of African American George Floyd, the 18-year-old who recorded the video of his arrest last May testified. “I stayed up all night and apologized to George Floyd for not doing more,” Darnella Frazier said in court on Tuesday (local time). But she knew, “that’s not what I should have done, that’s what I should have done,” Derek Chauvin told the defendant.

On May 25, 2020, former police officer Chauvin held the knee of Floyd, who had been arrested for an alleged counterfeit $ 20 bill, on the back of his neck for minutes, although the latter complained several times that he could not breathe. . Floyd’s death captured on cell phone video sparked unprecedented protests by the Black Lives Matter movement against racism and police violence in the United States. “I have a black father, I have a black brother,” Frazier said in court. “It could have been one of them.”

Witness wanted to provide medical help

The statement made by a first aid worker at the scene, who gave him his impressions of the incident, was particularly emotional. Genevieve Hansen testified that she was a few feet from Floyd and offered to help the dying man. “The police officers would not let me go to the scene,” Hansen said in court and held back tears.

Hansen is a firefighter in civilian clothes in Minneapolis at the time of the crime. “A man was killed,” the 27-year-old said. “And I could have been able to provide medical assistance to the best of my ability and that person was denied that right.” She also recalls offering the officers to guide her during resuscitation, but that too was rejected. “Totally desperate,” Hansen finally responded through tears when asked how she felt when Chauvin ignored her pleas. “I really wanted to help.”

Homicide and involuntary manslaughter charges

At the start of the trial on Monday, friends and family of the African American knelt in front of the Minneapolis courthouse for eight minutes and 46 seconds, which was exactly the moment when Chauvin Floyd put his knee behind his head.

Chauvin is on trial in Minnesota, USA, charged with murder and manslaughter. The 44-year-old could face up to 40 years in prison if convicted of the most serious charge, “second-degree murder.” Since the public cannot participate in the negotiation due to the corona pandemic, it will be broadcast on the Internet. The process is expected to take about a month to complete.

Three other former police officers have also been charged in connection with Floyd’s death. They must be brought to court individually at a later date.

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