MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO/AP) — Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the family court building in Minneapolis where a hearing in the death of George Floyd is being held. All four officers who have been charged in Floyd’s death are in court Friday morning.
The protesters staged a die-in as the hearing began at 9 a.m.
As the hearing wrapped up, protesters began yelling and surrounding some of the officers as they exited the building.
Former Minneapolis police officer Thomas Lane leaving court through a crowd of protesters. #wcco pic.twitter.com/JzVAJqImiG
— John Lauritsen (@JDLauritsen) September 11, 2020
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Chaos as protesters scream as police officers charged with George Floyd’s killing exit courthouse amidst jeering protestors pic.twitter.com/9DDufiPlYP
— esme murphy (@esmemurphy) September 11, 2020
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Heavy security as Derek Chauvin, donning a Kevlar vest, is taken away from this morning’s court hearing in the death of #GeorgeFloyd. Complete coverage on @wcco today.
***WARNING: Explicit language*** pic.twitter.com/dOG8lIwS9v
— Guy Still (@mplstvguy) September 11, 2020
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
The hearing focused on trial details, such as weather the officers should be tried together or separately, and whether the trial should be moved to a different location. Lawyers for all four former officers want the trial moved out of Minneapolis, citing pretrial publicity.
Bob Paule, Thao’s attorney, said in a court filing that the state has tainted the jury pool by calling Floyd’s death a “murder.” Paule also cites protests that caused millions of dollars of damage in Minneapolis, saying an impartial jury can’t be found in Hennepin County because jurors would “shoulder the weight of their decision creating further rioting and destruction.”
The Minneapolis Downtown Council sent out an alert to businesses. Many boarded up their windows overnight just to be safe.
The Floyd family and their attorneys spoke after the hearing wrapped up Friday afternoon.
“The only overdose that killed George Floyd was an overdose of excessive force and racism by the Minneapolis Police Department. George was lucid, cooperative, obeyed commands, and had situational awareness when he died. The world witnessed his asphyxiation on video, and now defense counsel is asking us to disbelieve our own eyes,” Crump said.
This marks Derek Chauvin’s first in-person appearance. He’s appeared remotely from a state prison until now. Chauvin was the officer who held a knee down on Floyd’s neck for almost eight minutes, and who faces the most severe charges of the four officers — second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao are charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter.
(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
Source: CBS Minnesota
Be First to Comment