Family of George Floyd calls arrest, charges of officer ‘welcome but overdue step’
George Floyd.[Courtesy of Attorney Benjamin Crump]
Friday, the family of George Floyd and the attorney representing them called the arrest of former officer Derek Chauvin a "welcome but overdue step on the road to justice."
Floyd was pronounced dead Monday night after he was taken into custody by police in south Minneapolis. A video that was circulated online shows an officer holding his knee on the back of Floyd’s neck for several minutes. Three other officers, who have also been fired, were present during the arrest.
In the statement, the family said they expected a first-degree murder charge and plan to call on authorities to revise the charges.
Chauvin was charged Friday with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
"The pain that the black community feels over this murder and what it reflects about the treatment of black people in America is raw and is spilling out onto streets across America," the family said. "While this is a right and necessary step, we need the City of Minneapolis – and cities across the country – to fix the policies and training deficiencies that permitted this unlawful killing."
The family said they also expect the other three officers to be arrested and charged.