TOPLINE
Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo believes three police officers who said nothing as Officer Derek Chauvin held his knee against George Floyd for almost nine minutes were “complicit” in Floyd’s killing, with the chief sharing those thoughts in a live interview on CNN in response to a question from Philonise Floyd, George Floyd’s brother.
KEY FACTS
Arradondo was responding to the question of whether the other three officers involved in restraining Floyd would be arrested, with Philonise Floyd asking the question through CNN reporter Sara Sidner.
“Silence is an action—you’re complicit. You’re complicit,” Arradondo said, adding “Mr. Floyd died in our hands and so I see that as being complicit,” while removing his hat after learning the question had come from the Floyd family.
So far, only Chauvin has been arrested in the case—facing charges of third-degree murder and manslaughter—though demonstrators have said they plan to continue protesting until all of the officers present for Floyd’s death are arrested.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Sunday evening that state Attorney General Keith Ellison, who is black and politically identifies as a progressive, will lead the prosecution in the case of Floyd’s death.
Though the other three officers present during Floyd’s death have not been charged, all have been fired from the Minneapolis Police Department.
CRITICAL QUOTE
"I would say to the Floyd family that I am absolutely devastatingly sorry for their loss. If I could do anything to bring Mr. Floyd back, I would do that. I would move heaven and Earth to do that. So I'm very sorry," Arradondo said.
KEY BACKGROUND
Sunday was the seventh day of widespread protests following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after white Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin held his knee to Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds, which was captured on video.
Chauvin has since been arrested and charged with third-degree murder, as well as manslaughter, but many demonstrators are vowing to continue their protests until the three other officers are charged. While those protests were peaceful for much of the week, scenes turned violent in cities across the country on Saturday night in what historian Douglas Brinkley said were the most widespread riots “since the assassination of Martin Luther King. Jr. in 1968.” Several states called in their National Guards as tensions became out of hand between protestors and police forces, which have become increasingly aggressive when dealing with protesters. In several cases, journalists covering the protests have been hit with tear gas or rubber bullets.
CHIEF CRITICS
Organizers have decried how protests have turned riotous, saying that looters and vandals among their ranks were being “opportunists.” Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), who at 80 years old is perhaps the most well-known living civil rights icon, also spoke out against the violent scenes, tweeting Saturday evening that “Rioting, looting, and burning is not the way.”
President Donald Trump has done little to quell the tensions or make calls for national unity, instead warning he’d bring in more firepower—perhaps calling in the military—to deal with protesters, who at one point he called “thugs.” He’s instead devoted much of his energy to criticizing local Democratic political leaders in areas where there are riots, along with Joe Biden and the media, while blaming the unrest on the poorly-defined “Antifa” leftist group, saying Sunday he planned to designate Antifa as a terrorist organization despite apparently lagging the legal authority to do so.
FURTHER READING
George Floyd protesters condemn 'opportunistic' looting and violence (The Guardian)
Trump Says ‘Antifa’ Will Be Designated A Terrorist Organization (Forbes)
As America Burned, President Trump Largely Stayed Silent (Forbes)
Former Officer Derek Chauvin Has Been Arrested In Death Of George Floyd (Forbes)
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