Still waiting for legal accountability two years after George Floyd’s murder

 The former Minneapolis Police Officers who murdered George Floyd were all convicted of violating his civil rights in federal court. However, our communities still await justice in state criminal court. The state criminal trial of Tou Thao and J. Alexander Keung was set to begin today,  June 13th, 2022. Judge Peter Cahill delayed this trial a third time, and it will now begin January 5th, 2023 – nearly 2 ½ years after Floyd’s murder. Concerned about Thao and Keung’s right to a fair trial, Cahill wrote that the significant publicity surrounding Lane’s guilty plea and the federal convictions of Chauvin, Lane, Thao, and Keung, “[C]ould make it more difficult for jurors to presume Thao and Kueng innocent of the state charges.”

We continue to stand with our BIPOC communities in the fight for justice. As we await these trials, the LRC will provide resources and opportunities for restorative processing of any trial developments. We are also connecting with community members who have had direct experience with the criminal legal system to create a community led vision of justice reform. If you are interested in sharing your story or your ideas on how to transform the legal justice system, please email us at community@legalrightscenter.org. 

George Floyd’s life mattered, and his murder is a tragedy. As many of our community members know, his death took place in a system that permits and perpetuates the oppression of communities of color. In May 2022, following a comprehensive investigation, the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) found that the Minneapolis Police Department engages in a pattern and practice of race discrimination in its policing. This report validates generations of experiences and provides a meaningful tool for reform – a consent decree. 
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A consent decree is an enforceable court order and will act as an agreement between the state of Minnesota and the City of Minneapolis on how the city will govern the police department. The LRC has partnered with the Minnesota Justice Research Center to gather input from our community on how policing practices should be changed and the content that should be included within a consent decree. This input will ensure the consent decree best serves our community. Continue to follow us on social media for more information on opportunities to provide your input.