The three former Minneapolis Police officers who helped Derek Chauvin restrain George Floyd in May 2020 committed federal crimes when they ignored Floyd's repeated pleas of "I can't breathe," a federal prosecutor said in opening statements of their federal trial today.

"Each made a conscious choice over and over again," said Samantha Trepel, special litigation counsel from the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division. "They chose not to intervene and stop Chauvin as he killed a man.

They chose not to protect George Floyd, the man they handcuffed."The trial comes about 20 months after Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, was handcuffed and pressed to the pavement on his stomach by the officers. 

Harrowing video taken by a bystander shows Floyd as he gasped for air, pleaded with the officers, "I can't breathe," and called for his mother.

Last edited by Spunky (1/24/2022 4:21 pm)

Another police shooting in MN. The guy was sleeping when police entered his home with no notice. They shot him dead. Are these shootings on the upswing again? Another hearing/demonstrations/trial. What’s wrong with this picture?