MINNEAPOLIS — This Sunday marks the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder by a Minneapolis police officer, and a series of religious services, concerts, and vigils are set to commemorate this significant event. The anniversary is particularly poignant as police reform and civil rights activists face what many perceive as a backlash stemming from the policies of the Trump administration.
The main events in Minneapolis will take place at George Floyd Square, the site where former police Officer Derek Chauvin infamously knelt on Floyd’s neck for nine and a half minutes, despite Floyd’s desperate pleas of “I can’t breathe.” The commemorative activities began on Friday and include concerts, a vibrant street festival, and a “self-care fair.” The series of events will culminate on Sunday with a worship service, an uplifting gospel music concert, and a solemn candlelight vigil.
In Houston, where George Floyd grew up, his family plans to gather at his gravesite for a memorial service led by the prominent civil rights leader, Rev. Al Sharpton. Additionally, a memorial service will be held at a nearby park, featuring a mix of music, preaching, poetry readings, and a symbolic balloon release to honor Floyd’s legacy.
The remembrances come at a challenging time for activists, who initially hoped that the worldwide protests ignited by Floyd’s murder on May 25, 2020, would lead to significant and lasting police reform across the United States and a sustained focus on racial justice issues. Despite promises from Minneapolis officials to overhaul the police department, many activists feel that the progress has been disappointingly slow. “We understand that change takes time,” stated Michelle Gross, president of Communities United Against Police Brutality, in a recent statement. “However, the progress being claimed by the city is not being felt in the streets.”
In a concerning development for activists, the Trump administration recently announced plans to cancel settlements with Minneapolis and Louisville that aimed to reform their police departments following Floyd’s murder and the killing of Breonna Taylor. Under President Joe Biden, the U.S. Justice Department had previously advocated for stringent oversight of local police departments accused of systemic abuses. Furthermore, Trump’s administration has declared an end to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at the federal level, utilizing federal funds to compel local governments, educational institutions, and public school districts to dismantle these programs. Republican-led states are also intensifying their efforts to eliminate such initiatives.
This anniversary serves not only as a remembrance of George Floyd’s life but also as a crucial moment for reflection on the ongoing struggle for racial equity and police reform in America.
