In Minnesota, jury selection opens today in the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was filmed killing George Floyd by kneeling on his neck for more than nine minutes, in a video since seen around the world. Over the weekend, hundreds of protesters marched to demand justice for all victims of police brutality. Minneapolis will spend at least $1 million on barbed wire fencing and barricades during the trial, with thousands of police officers and National Guard troops mobilized in the streets. George Floyd’s family spoke at a news conference Saturday ahead of the trial. This is his brother, Philonise Floyd.
Philonise Floyd: “My brother, he was valuable. He was an asset to this family. But, for this world, he’s changing it. He’s a global asset now. He told me, time and time, 'My name will ring bells all around the world.' I never thought it would be just like this. … You all, everybody who’s watching this, understand that we will have change. You just have to be the change, and you have to force it and make the change.”