Warning: This post includes a disturbing video of police brutality.
The murder of George Floyd has sparked protests across the country demanding justice and reform. The police officers involved in Floyd's death have all been arrested and charged. Derek Chauvin was charged with second-degree murder while the three other officers, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao, and Alexander Keung, were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder.
Per TMZ, Ben Crump has released new footage of the murder revealing that Tou Thao was blatantly ignoring the pleas from bystanders to check Floyd's pulse. "Warning: This is beyond disturbing, even harder to watch than the first video," Crump stated.
The video clearly shows Tou Thao not only ignoring pleas of civilians to check Floyd's body but evidently trying to block the view of Chauvin kneeling on George Floyd's lifeless body. Crump said that the video is new and provides a slightly wider angle of what happened and provides more insight into Thao's conduct in that situation. It looks like Thao didn't bother to even look back.
"The protest of those bystanders, who refused to just stand by and let it happen, has reverberated around the world — fueling our protest against injustice and police brutality!! 8 minutes 46 seconds. The four ex-officers MUST be convicted of MURDER for this hideous atrocity! They MUST all be held accountable!!'" Crump said after releasing the video.
George Floyd’s Family Releases Statement On New Charges
George Floyd’s family has issued a statement on the news that Derek Chauvin and the three officers present will be charged.
News recently broke that Derek Chauvin’s third-degree murder charge was to be upgraded to a second-degree charge, which carries a maximum sentence of forty years. It was also reported that the three other officers present during George Floyd’s murder, Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane, will likely be charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder; the official charges have yet to be confirmed, with Attorney General Keith Ellison set to make a statement later today.
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Following the additional charges, George Floyd’s family and attorney Ben Crump have issued a statement of their own: “This is a bittersweet moment for the family of George Floyd. We are deeply gratified that Attorney General Keith Ellison took decisive action in this case, arresting and charging all the officers involved in George Floyd’s death and upgrading the charge against Derek Chauvin to felony second-degree murder. This is a significant step forward on the road to justice, and we are gratified that this important action was brought before George Floyd’s body was laid to rest.”
“That is a source of peace for George’s family in this painful time,” continues the statement. “Attorney General Ellison has informed the family that his office will continue to investigate and will upgrade the charges to first-degree murder if the evidence supports it. These officers knew they could act with impunity, given the Minneapolis Police Department’s widespread and prolonged pattern and practice of violating people’s constitutional rights. Therefore, we also demand permanent transparent police accountability at all levels and at all times.”
The statement went on to address those who rallied to support the Floyd family, marching in protest against police brutality and systemic racism. “We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support by Americans in cities across the country, and we urge them to raise their voices for change in peaceful ways. Our message to them is: Find constructive and positive ways to keep the focus and pressure on. Don’t let up on your demand for change.”
We can only hope that these charges will be the first step in sparking up a necessary change. Rest in peace to George Floyd, and all of those who lost their lives to police brutality. We at HotNewHipHop send our support to the entire Black community and all of those doing their part to ensure that justice is achieved. As the statement reminds us: “don’t let up on your demand for change.”
George Floyd’s Family Informed That 3 Other Officers Will Be Charged
Ben Crump, George Floyd’s family attorney, claims that he has been informed that the three other officers involved in Floyd’s murder will be charged.
George Floyd, a 46-year-old Minneapolis man, was killed after a since-fired police officer, Derek Chauvin, applied forceful pressure on his neck and back for nearly nine minutes, resulting in his death at the scene. Two opposing autopsies confirm that Floyd’s death can be ruled a homicide, with one directly pointing to asphyxia as a result of Chauvin’s pressure.
Derek Chauvin is currently in a maximum-security prison and has been charged with third-degree murder. Ben Crump, a world-renowned civil rights attorney working for the family of George Floyd, is urging the authorities to upgrade his charges to first-degree murder. There has been no news regarding the three other officers involved in Floyd’s death, until now that is.
Ben Crump was on The Today Show this morning (June 2) when he stated that he and the Floyd family have been informed that the three other officers will be charged for their involvement in the murder.
“We heard that they expect to charge those officers…We understand they will be charged. That is what the family is hearing from the authorities and [Floyd] died on the scene and that’s important to note,” Crump said.
The county autopsy found that Floyd died of heart failure while the independent autopsy directly claims it was asphyxia. These discrepancies will reportedly be vital to the case, according to Crump.
We will keep you updated on any news regarding the charges coming for the three other officers.
George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery Attorneys Provide Update After Independent Autopsy
The attorneys’ for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery are bringing their cases to the UN.
As people protest in the streets for justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, the attorneys in the cases are bringing the cases to the UN to demand the same. Ben Crump and Lee Merritt are speaking to Van Jones for an online forum brought together by Team Roc.
Crump and Merritt discussed the bond hearing for the three men in the Arbery case. The attorney for the Arbery case said that he would be standing there with the family to demand that they would deny bond. “We believe that the rule of law with be sufficient to keep those men behind bars until trial,” Merritt said.
“We don’t think any bond is reasonable for these brutal suspects,” he said. “We’re confident they will not get bond. We believe in the rule of law.” Merritt confirmed the family will attend Thursday’s hearing.”
“What [Floyd] needed was a breath. The family’s [now] asking for everyone to take a breath for peace, take a break for justice, take a breath to heal our country and take a breath for George., Crump said.
On the independent autopsy that revealed Floyd’s death was a homicide, Crump added that the Attorney General will look at both autopsies to build a case.
If you’re looking for resources, we’ve listed ways you can help here.
George Floyd Memorial & Public Viewing Information
George Floyd’s family and attorney Ben Crump release details and information about the upcoming memorials and public viewings.
Official details for the upcoming memorials and public viewings have been announced by the family of George Floyd and renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump.
There will be events taking place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Raeford, North Carolina, and Houston, Texas.
The first official memorial will happen in Minneapolis. Set to begin at 1 PM local time on Thursday, June 4, people will gather to remember the life of George Floyd, who lost his life to police brutality last week after officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck and back for eight-minutes, restricting his airway. It will take place at North Central University.
On Saturday, June 6, there will be a public viewing and memorial in Raeford, North Carolina. The public viewing will take place from 11 AM to 1 PM at Cape Fear Conference B Headquarters. The memorial is in the afternoon at 3 PM.
Finally, George Floyd’s life will be celebrated in his home state of Texas. A public viewing is happening on Monday, June 8 at Fountain of Praise in Houston. It will start at 12 PM local time and end at 6 PM. A memorial takes place the following day at the same location at 11 AM.
Rest in peace, George Floyd. Learn how you can help here.
George Floyd’s Cause Of Death Revealed
George Floyd died as a result of asphyxia from sustained forceful pressure, independent medical examiners have determined.
The world is in pain following the death of George Floyd. The police officer who killed him, Derek Chauvin, has been charged with third-degree murder but Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney representing the Floyd family, is calling for him to be charged with first-degree murder after Floyd’s cause of death was officially revealed.
An autopsy has been conducted on the body of George Floyd and independent medical examiners have determined the official cause of death for the 46-year-old unarmed man. It has been determined that Floyd died as a result of asphyxia from sustained forceful pressure, according to a press release from Crump’s law office.
Dr. Michael Baden and Dr. Allecia Wilson found that Floyd’s death can be ruled a homicide due to neck and back compression that cut off blood flow to his brain. After reviewing the evidence, it has also been determined that Floyd died at the scene.
Scott Olson/Getty Images“What we found is consistent with what people saw. There is no other health issue that could cause or contribute to the death,” said Dr. Baden. “Police have this false impression that if you can talk, you can breathe. That’s not true.”
Ben Crump, the lead attorney for the Floyd family issued a statement.
“For George Floyd, the ambulance was his hearse. Beyond question, he would be alive today if not for the pressure applied to his neck by fired officer Derek Chauvin and the strain on his body from two additional officers kneeling on him,” said Crump. “Mr. Floyd’s death was a homicide by officers who taunted him while holding him down for more than eight minutes. And the officer who stood by doing nothing was a physical blue shield — a living symbol of the code of silence.”
Crump is calling for the arrests of the three other officers involved in Floyd’s death, as well as harsher charges for Derek Chauvin.