A Pulitzer Prize has been awarded to the teenager who recorded the video of the death of George Floyd

The Council of The Pulitzer Prize winner on Friday awarded a “special mention” to the teenager whose video of the arrest and murder of African American George Floyd in the hands of a policeman sparked protests around the world against racist violence.

Darnella frazier, 18, was recognized during the ceremony in which announced the prestigious 2021 Journalism Awards for their “courageous” reporting on the May 2020 murder of Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

Frazier was recognized “for bravely record the murder of George Floyd, a video that sparked protests against police brutality around the world, highlighting the crucial role of citizens in the search for truth and justice by journalists ”, says the quote.

Without the appearance of Frazier, it is possible that the murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police force has remained anonymous. She watched the endless minutes during which Agent Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck until he took his life. And not only with his eyes: above all, with his cell phone, by recording the video that was known all over the world.

On May 25, 2020, Darnella arrived at the Cup Foods convenience store with her 9-year-old cousin. They had gone to buy some snacks and found a shocking scene. She didn’t hesitate to pull out her cell phone and reveal the police abuse. The video captured by Frazier (who was 17 at the time) shows Chauvin applying pressure with his knee to the neck of Floyd, a 46-year-old African-American man. The image went viral and caused a sensation in the United States and around the world, which sparked massive protests against racism and police brutality.

In addition, the staff of the Star Tribune from Minneapolis received the award in the Breaking News category for his coverage of Floyd’s death and its aftermath, while The New York Times was honored with public service award for its coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.

For the prize jury, the Diario, who has closely followed the evolution of deaths and infections with a constantly updated data system, “filled an information gap and helped local governments, healthcare providers, businesses and individuals to better prepare “.

The Pulitzer Prize for Public Service is considered the highest prize awarded by Columbia University to the journalistic work of the American media.

Online media BuzzFeed won its first Pulitzer, in the international reporting category, for its coverage of prison camps built by China for the mass detention of Muslims.

Ed Yong from Atlantic moved back analysis report award for a series of “lucid, definitive” articles on the covid-19 pandemic.

Reuters was awarded in the same category by a analysis of the legal doctrine of qualified immunity and how it is used to protect the police from legal proceedings.

The PA won the Pulitzer for Last Minute Photographs and a Photographer from PA, Emilio Morenatti, received the award for reportage photography.

With information from AFP

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