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ST. PAUL, Minnesota (AP) – Dozens of people gathered outside the Minnesota governor’s mansion on Saturday to demand police accountability, days before a former Minneapolis officer was put on trial for the death of George Floyd.
Many of the approximately 150 people who demonstrated in Minnesota were family members of others who died in encounters with police. Similar protests were held in cities across the country before Derek Chauvin’s trial.
Floyd, a black man, died on May 25 after Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee to Floyd’s neck as Floyd was held face down in handcuffs, saying he couldn’t breathe. Body camera video timestamps provided by prosecutors show Chauvin held his position for about nine minutes, even after Floyd has stopped moving. Floyd was later pronounced dead in a hospital.
Chauvin is charged with second degree murder and manslaughter and jury selection in his trial begins Monday.
Saturday’s protest in Minnesota was organized by Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence, a coalition of families who have lost loved ones in clashes with police. The Star Tribune reports that speakers have said that in light of Floyd’s death, they want further fatal clashes with police to be reopened and investigated.
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