Arianna Floyd, George Floyd's 4-year-old niece, was wounded Saturday while sleeping in her bed after a gunman opened fire on her home, according to Houston police.

According to authorities, the girl was shot in the torso and is in stable condition after emergency surgery.

According to media reports, the bullet penetrated her lung and liver, as well as breaking three ribs.

Floyd's niece, according to her relatives.

Arianna was one of four adults and two children in the Houston residence when it was hit by bullets at 3 am.

Police said in a statement that they don't know if the shots were fired by one individual or numerous people.

There are no suspects and no indication of a probable motive, according to police.&nbsp;

Arianna was shot while sleeping in her crib.Her family frequently took her to protests and rallies in support of her late uncle.&nbsp;

George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who pressed his knee to Floyd's neck, a year and a half ago.

A video of the incident went viral, provoking nationwide protests.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Arianna Floyd, George Floyd's 4-year-old niece, was wounded Saturday while sleeping in her bed after a gunman opened fire on her home, according to Houston police.

Arianna Floyd, George Floyd's 4-year-old niece, was wounded Saturday while sleeping in her bed after a gunman opened fire on her home, according to Houston police. According to authorities, the girl was shot in the torso and is in stable condition after emergency surgery. According to media reports, the bullet penetrated her lung and liver, as well as breaking three ribs. Floyd's niece, according to her relatives. Arianna was one of four adults and two children in the Houston residence when it was hit by bullets at 3 am. Police said in a statement that they don't know if the shots were fired by one individual or numerous people. There are no suspects and no indication of a probable motive, according to police. Arianna was shot while sleeping in her crib.Her family frequently took her to protests and rallies in support of her late uncle. George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who pressed his knee to Floyd's neck, a year and a half ago. A video of the incident went viral, provoking nationwide protests. (With inputs from agencies)

George Floyd’s 4-year-old niece shot in her Houston home

A time capsule has been found underneath a 130-old statue of a Confederate general called Robert E. Lee in Richmond

After its discovery, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam tweeted "They found it!"&nbsp;

"This is likely the time capsule everyone was looking for," he added.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
They found it! This is likely the time capsule everyone was looking for. Conservators studying it—stay tuned for next steps! (Won’t be opened today) <a href="https://t.co/3lWrsPGZd2">pic.twitter.com/3lWrsPGZd2</a>
— Governor Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovernorVA/status/1475526531200004101?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

From artifacts to confederate memorabilia and even a rare photo of Abraham Lincoln, the long-sought-after item is expected to contain some hidden treasures, as per an article published in the newspaper in the year 1887.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/egyptian-pharaohs-3500-year-old-mummy-gets-unwrapped-digitally-for-first-time-440643" hreflang="en">Egyptian pharaoh’s 3,500-year-old mummy gets unwrapped digitally for first time</a>

The box will be scanned via X-ray and will be opened on Tuesday at 1:00 pm (1800 GMT).

The previous apparent time capsule discovered by the crew at the base of the same statue contained three water-logged books, a photograph in a soggy cloth envelope, and a coin.&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/statue-of-confederate-general-robert-e-lee-removed-411843/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The prevailing theory last week was that the lead box was left by a person, or persons, who oversaw the monument’s construction.

Robert E. Lee had commanded the Army of Northern Virginia during the Civil War. His statue in Richmond was erected in 1890 in the former capital of the Confederacy.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-charlottsville-statue-at-the-centre-of-deadly-2017-protests-removed-397233">Also read |&nbsp;US: Charlottsville statue at the centre of deadly 2017 protests removed</a>

Its removal was blocked by two lawsuits until a ruling from the supreme court of Virginia in September cleared the way for it to be dismantled. Crews searched for the time capsule then, digging and removing some massive stones, but were unable to locate it.

The statue became the focus of protests for racial justice last year following the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was murdered by a white police officer in Minnesota.

(With inputs from agencies)

A time capsule has been found underneath a 130-old statue of a Confederate general called Robert E. Lee in Richmond After its discovery, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam tweeted "They found it!

A time capsule has been found underneath a 130-old statue of a Confederate general called Robert E. Lee in Richmond After its discovery, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam tweeted "They found it!" "This is likely the time capsule everyone was looking for," he added. They found it! This is likely the time capsule everyone was looking for. Conservators studying it—stay tuned for next steps! (Won’t be opened today) pic.twitter.com/3lWrsPGZd2 — Governor Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) December 27, 2021 × From artifacts to confederate memorabilia and even a rare photo of Abraham Lincoln, the long-sought-after item is expected to contain some hidden treasures, as per an article published in the newspaper in the year 1887. Also read | Egyptian pharaoh’s 3,500-year-old mummy gets unwrapped digitally for first time The box will be scanned via X-ray and will be opened on Tuesday at 1:00 pm (1800 GMT). The previous apparent time capsule discovered by the crew at the base of the same statue contained three water-logged books, a photograph in a soggy cloth envelope, and a coin. The prevailing theory last week was that the lead box was left by a person, or persons, who oversaw the monument’s construction. Robert E. Lee had commanded the Army of Northern Virginia during the Civil War. His statue in Richmond was erected in 1890 in the former capital of the Confederacy. Also read | US: Charlottsville statue at the centre of deadly 2017 protests removed Its removal was blocked by two lawsuits until a ruling from the supreme court of Virginia in September cleared the way for it to be dismantled. Crews searched for the time capsule then, digging and removing some massive stones, but were unable to locate it. The statue became the focus of protests for racial justice last year following the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was murdered by a white police officer in Minnesota. (With inputs from agencies)

Time capsule discovered underneath 130-year-old statue in Virginia

For the second time this year, a jury in Minneapolis has ruled against a former police officer for killing a Black man.

Like the conviction of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd, the verdict Thursday against Kimberly Potter on two counts of manslaughter for the shooting death of Daunte Wright during a traffic stop represented an unusual decision to send a police officer to prison.

And yet, despite the two high-profile convictions in Minneapolis, a review of the data a year and a half after America’s summer of protest shows that accountability for officers who kill remains elusive and that the sheer numbers of people killed in encounters with police have remained steady at an alarming level.

The murder of Floyd on a Minneapolis street corner drew millions to the streets in protest and set off a national reassessment on race that touched almost every aspect of American life, from corporate boardrooms to sports nicknames. But on the core issues that set off the social unrest in the first place — police violence and accountability — very little has changed.

Since Floyd’s death in May of last year, 1,646 people have been killed by the police, or about three people per day on average, according to Mapping Police Violence, a nonprofit that tracks people killed by police. Although murder or manslaughter charges against officers have increased this year, criminal charges, much less convictions, remain exceptionally rare.

That underscores both the benefit of the doubt usually accorded law officers who are often making life-or-death decisions in a split second and the way the law and the power of police unions often protect officers, say activists and legal experts.

The convictions of both Chauvin, the former Minneapolis officer who was captured on an excruciating bystander video pinning Floyd to the ground for more than nine minutes as he gasped for air, and Potter strike some experts as tantalizing glimpses of a legal system in flux. Potter’s case in particular reflected the kind of split-second decision — she mistakenly used her gun instead of her Taser after Wright tried to flee an arrest — that jurors usually excuse even when something goes horribly wrong.

Chris Uggen, a sociology and law professor at the University of Minnesota, said that even though the number of people killed by police remained prevalent, high-profile cases could still send a message to the police.

“The probability of punishment is not zero,” he said. “So it moves the needle to some degree, and it can certainly affect the behaviors of police officers.”

But many experts are reluctant to read too much into a few isolated cases carried out in the glare of media scrutiny.

“Criminal trials are not designed to be instruments of change,” said Paul Butler, a professor at Georgetown University Law Center and a former prosecutor. “Criminal trials are about bringing individual wrongdoers to justice. So while there have been high-profile prosecutions of police officers for killing Black people, that doesn’t in and of itself lead to the kind of systemic reform that might reduce police violence.”

Philip M. Stinson, a criminal justice professor at Bowling Green State University in Ohio who tracks police criminal charges and convictions, said Potter was the first female police officer convicted of a murder or manslaughter charge in an on-duty shooting since 2005. He said he believed that the number of deaths from excessive police force was higher than what was recorded and reflected in news coverage.

“Many police officers exhibit a fear of Black people,” he said. “Until we can address that, it is very difficult to bring about meaningful reforms.”

Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, a constitutional law professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, said accountability also needed to be aimed at prosecutors who gave officers “carte blanche” for a century until the recent show of public outrage. Change is not likely to come soon, she said.

“In these individual cases, justice won in the end,” she said. “But there is a lot of work that still needs to be done.”

Jim Pasco, executive director of the National Fraternal Order of Police, said the rarity of criminal charges against officers does not indicate a lack of accountability, but simply reflects that the vast majority of police shootings are lawful — with many occurring under dangerous circumstances in which officers have to make quick, life-or-death decisions.

There has been no finding of fault against officers in many of the other recent high-profile cases of people killed in encounters with the police.

Less than three weeks after the murder of Floyd, an officer in Atlanta fatally shot a Black man named Rayshard Brooks, who was fleeing a Wendy’s parking lot after taking a Taser from the officer’s partner and firing it at him. The killing in Atlanta, like that of Floyd’s, was captured on bystander video and drew protesters, adding to the demands for justice and accountability over the number of African Americans killed by police.

And about two months before Floyd’s murder, Breonna Taylor was killed in her Louisville, Kentucky, apartment during a botched police raid that targeted an ex-boyfriend for alleged drug crimes. Her name, too, became familiar to millions of Americans.

Yet the officers involved in the Taylor case have largely been cleared, even as federal authorities continue to investigate. And in Atlanta, Brooks’ case stalled this summer as it was passed to a third prosecutor, who is starting the investigation all over again. The officer who shot Brooks has been charged with murder, but there is no timeline for a trial.

“We are taking a fresh look at it and starting from day one,” said Pete Skandalakis, the special prosecutor in Georgia who took over the case. He added that he could not predict when the case would see a courtroom.

That has left Brooks’ family wondering if they will ever see justice.

“I think we’re all just lost right now,” said L. Chris Stewart, a lawyer who represents the Brooks family. “We don’t know what to think or what’s going on.”

According to data kept by Stinson and a research team at Bowling Green, 21 officers this year have been charged with murder or manslaughter for an on-duty shooting — although five of the officers charged are for the same encounter: the killing in November 2020 of a 15-year-old boy who was a suspect in an armed robbery.

While this is an increase from the 16 officers charged in 2020 and the highest number since Stinson began compiling the data since 2005, it remains small next to the roughly 1,100 people killed by police annually. (Just as the pace of killings since Floyd’s death has remained largely unchanged, racial disparities have also stayed the same. Black people are still 2 1/2 to 3 times as likely as white people to be killed by a police officer, according to Mapping Police Violence.)

While Chauvin’s trial was underway in the spring, Wright’s death at the hands of Potter in Brooklyn Center, a Minneapolis suburb, set off new rounds of protests in the Twin Cities. And in the rest of the U.S., the number of new cases of people killed in encounters with police continued apace, some of them piercing the national consciousness and adding to the names protesters shouted in the streets.

Among them were Adam Toledo, a 13-year-old Latino boy who was killed by a Chicago police officer after running down a dark alleyway with a gun. And in Columbus, Ohio, shortly before the jury reached a decision in the Chauvin trial, a 16-year-old Black girl named Ma’Khia Bryant was shot to death by an officer as she swung a knife at a young woman.

A state agency investigated Ma’Khia’s death and in July turned its findings over to local prosecutors in Franklin County. At the time, the state attorney general said he expected it to take prosecutors “several weeks” to make a charging decision, but a spokesperson for G. Gary Tyack, the county’s top prosecutor, said the case was still under review five months later.

More recently, at a high school football game in a suburb of Pennsylvania this fall, police officers opened fire amid a crowd after they heard gunshots, killing an 8-year-old Black girl named Fanta Bility.

All of these cases remain under investigation, and no charges have been filed against the officers involved.

One of the reasons for Chauvin’s conviction was that the circumstances of the case differed so starkly from so many other cases in which officers were cleared by prosecutors or juries: There was no split-second decision made in an environment in which Chauvin could argue that his life, or those of other officers, was in danger.

In the trial of Potter, which played out in the same courtroom where Chauvin was tried, her defense attorneys said Potter acted reasonably in using force because she feared for the life of a fellow officer, a scenario more emblematic of a typical police killing case.

This time, that argument did not work.

For the second time this year, a jury in Minneapolis has ruled against a former police officer for killing a Black man. Like the conviction of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd, the verdict Thursday against Kimberly Potter on two counts of manslaughter for the shooting death of Daunte Wright during a traffic stop represented an unusual decision to send a police officer to prison.

For the second time this year, a jury in Minneapolis has ruled against a former police officer for killing a Black man. Like the conviction of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd, the verdict Thursday against Kimberly Potter on two counts of manslaughter for the shooting death of Daunte Wright during a traffic stop represented an unusual decision to send a police officer to prison. And yet, despite the two high-profile convictions in Minneapolis, a review of the data a year and a half after America’s summer of protest shows that accountability for officers who kill remains elusive and that the sheer numbers of people killed in encounters with police have remained steady at an alarming level. The murder of Floyd on a Minneapolis street corner drew millions to the streets in protest and set off a national reassessment on race that touched almost every aspect of American life, from corporate boardrooms to sports nicknames. But on the core issues that set off the social unrest in the first place — police violence and accountability — very little has changed. Since Floyd’s death in May of last year, 1,646 people have been killed by the police, or about three people per day on average, according to Mapping Police Violence, a nonprofit that tracks people killed by police. Although murder or manslaughter charges against officers have increased this year, criminal charges, much less convictions, remain exceptionally rare. That underscores both the benefit of the doubt usually accorded law officers who are often making life-or-death decisions in a split second and the way the law and the power of police unions often protect officers, say activists and legal experts. The convictions of both Chauvin, the former Minneapolis officer who was captured on an excruciating bystander video pinning Floyd to the ground for more than nine minutes as he gasped for air, and Potter strike some experts as tantalizing glimpses of a legal system in flux. Potter’s case in particular reflected the kind of split-second decision — she mistakenly used her gun instead of her Taser after Wright tried to flee an arrest — that jurors usually excuse even when something goes horribly wrong. Chris Uggen, a sociology and law professor at the University of Minnesota, said that even though the number of people killed by police remained prevalent, high-profile cases could still send a message to the police. “The probability of punishment is not zero,” he said. “So it moves the needle to some degree, and it can certainly affect the behaviors of police officers.” But many experts are reluctant to read too much into a few isolated cases carried out in the glare of media scrutiny. “Criminal trials are not designed to be instruments of change,” said Paul Butler, a professor at Georgetown University Law Center and a former prosecutor. “Criminal trials are about bringing individual wrongdoers to justice. So while there have been high-profile prosecutions of police officers for killing Black people, that doesn’t in and of itself lead to the kind of systemic reform that might reduce police violence.” Philip M. Stinson, a criminal justice professor at Bowling Green State University in Ohio who tracks police criminal charges and convictions, said Potter was the first female police officer convicted of a murder or manslaughter charge in an on-duty shooting since 2005. He said he believed that the number of deaths from excessive police force was higher than what was recorded and reflected in news coverage. “Many police officers exhibit a fear of Black people,” he said. “Until we can address that, it is very difficult to bring about meaningful reforms.” Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, a constitutional law professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, said accountability also needed to be aimed at prosecutors who gave officers “carte blanche” for a century until the recent show of public outrage. Change is not likely to come soon, she said. “In these individual cases, justice won in the end,” she said. “But there is a lot of work that still needs to be done.” Jim Pasco, executive director of the National Fraternal Order of Police, said the rarity of criminal charges against officers does not indicate a lack of accountability, but simply reflects that the vast majority of police shootings are lawful — with many occurring under dangerous circumstances in which officers have to make quick, life-or-death decisions. There has been no finding of fault against officers in many of the other recent high-profile cases of people killed in encounters with the police. Less than three weeks after the murder of Floyd, an officer in Atlanta fatally shot a Black man named Rayshard Brooks, who was fleeing a Wendy’s parking lot after taking a Taser from the officer’s partner and firing it at him. The killing in Atlanta, like that of Floyd’s, was captured on bystander video and drew protesters, adding to the demands for justice and accountability over the number of African Americans killed by police. And about two months before Floyd’s murder, Breonna Taylor was killed in her Louisville, Kentucky, apartment during a botched police raid that targeted an ex-boyfriend for alleged drug crimes. Her name, too, became familiar to millions of Americans. Yet the officers involved in the Taylor case have largely been cleared, even as federal authorities continue to investigate. And in Atlanta, Brooks’ case stalled this summer as it was passed to a third prosecutor, who is starting the investigation all over again. The officer who shot Brooks has been charged with murder, but there is no timeline for a trial. “We are taking a fresh look at it and starting from day one,” said Pete Skandalakis, the special prosecutor in Georgia who took over the case. He added that he could not predict when the case would see a courtroom. That has left Brooks’ family wondering if they will ever see justice. “I think we’re all just lost right now,” said L. Chris Stewart, a lawyer who represents the Brooks family. “We don’t know what to think or what’s going on.” According to data kept by Stinson and a research team at Bowling Green, 21 officers this year have been charged with murder or manslaughter for an on-duty shooting — although five of the officers charged are for the same encounter: the killing in November 2020 of a 15-year-old boy who was a suspect in an armed robbery. While this is an increase from the 16 officers charged in 2020 and the highest number since Stinson began compiling the data since 2005, it remains small next to the roughly 1,100 people killed by police annually. (Just as the pace of killings since Floyd’s death has remained largely unchanged, racial disparities have also stayed the same. Black people are still 2 1/2 to 3 times as likely as white people to be killed by a police officer, according to Mapping Police Violence.) While Chauvin’s trial was underway in the spring, Wright’s death at the hands of Potter in Brooklyn Center, a Minneapolis suburb, set off new rounds of protests in the Twin Cities. And in the rest of the U.S., the number of new cases of people killed in encounters with police continued apace, some of them piercing the national consciousness and adding to the names protesters shouted in the streets. Among them were Adam Toledo, a 13-year-old Latino boy who was killed by a Chicago police officer after running down a dark alleyway with a gun. And in Columbus, Ohio, shortly before the jury reached a decision in the Chauvin trial, a 16-year-old Black girl named Ma’Khia Bryant was shot to death by an officer as she swung a knife at a young woman. A state agency investigated Ma’Khia’s death and in July turned its findings over to local prosecutors in Franklin County. At the time, the state attorney general said he expected it to take prosecutors “several weeks” to make a charging decision, but a spokesperson for G. Gary Tyack, the county’s top prosecutor, said the case was still under review five months later. More recently, at a high school football game in a suburb of Pennsylvania this fall, police officers opened fire amid a crowd after they heard gunshots, killing an 8-year-old Black girl named Fanta Bility. All of these cases remain under investigation, and no charges have been filed against the officers involved. One of the reasons for Chauvin’s conviction was that the circumstances of the case differed so starkly from so many other cases in which officers were cleared by prosecutors or juries: There was no split-second decision made in an environment in which Chauvin could argue that his life, or those of other officers, was in danger. In the trial of Potter, which played out in the same courtroom where Chauvin was tried, her defense attorneys said Potter acted reasonably in using force because she feared for the life of a fellow officer, a scenario more emblematic of a typical police killing case. This time, that argument did not work.

Despite uproar over Floyd’s death, the number of fatal encounters with police hasn’t changed

130 years ago, the US government buried a time capsule in the base of a sculpture of a Confederate general. On Wednesday, the time capsule revealed its secrets and gave rise to another mystery.

Last week, a shoebox-sized container was found near a granite pedestal of a statue of General Robert E. Lee, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia during the Civil War.

Richmond, which served as the capital of the South during the bloody 1861-65 conflict, pulled down Lee's statue in September, joining a growing number of monuments to the pro-slavery Confederacy being demolished. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/memorial-commemorating-victims-of-tiananmen-square-massacre-removed-from-hong-kong-varsity-439169" hreflang="en">Memorial commemorating victims of Tiananmen Square massacre removed from Hong Kong varsity</a>

A newspaper article from 1887 reported that a time capsule was hidden in the massive stone base of the bronze statue. The time capsule contained items from the Civil War such as buttons, bullets, Confederate currency, maps, a Bible, as well as a picture of Abraham Lincoln's coffin.

In contrast, the time capsule opened Wednesday at the Department of Historical Resources in Richmond contained only three water-logged books, a photograph in a damp cloth envelope, and an unknown coin.

Among the books was the 1875 American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac, which acted as a guide for astronomers, surveyors, and navigators.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/researchers-discover-worlds-oldest-family-tree-by-analysing-dna-from-5700-years-old-tomb-439172" hreflang="en">Researchers discover world's oldest family tree, by analysing DNA from 5,700 years old tomb</a>

There was also a book published in 1889, two years after the time capsule mentioned in the 1887 newspaper article was thought to have been buried, raising questions about its whereabouts and even if it ever existed.

The book titled "The Huguenot Lovers: A Tale of the Old Dominion" was written by C.P.E. Burgwyn, who listed himself on the title page as a consultant engineer with the Lee Monument Association.

Watch |&nbsp;Statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee removed

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/statue-of-confederate-general-robert-e-lee-removed-411843/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In the wake of the murder of George Floyd by a white Minnesota police officer, Lee's statue became the focus of protests for racial justice in Richmond last year.

Confederate South seceded from the United States during the Civil War and fought to maintain slavery that was abolished in the rest of the nation.

(With inputs from agencies)

130 years ago, the US government buried a time capsule in the base of a sculpture of a Confederate general. On Wednesday, the time capsule revealed its secrets and gave rise to another mystery.

130 years ago, the US government buried a time capsule in the base of a sculpture of a Confederate general. On Wednesday, the time capsule revealed its secrets and gave rise to another mystery. Last week, a shoebox-sized container was found near a granite pedestal of a statue of General Robert E. Lee, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia during the Civil War. Richmond, which served as the capital of the South during the bloody 1861-65 conflict, pulled down Lee's statue in September, joining a growing number of monuments to the pro-slavery Confederacy being demolished. Also read | Memorial commemorating victims of Tiananmen Square massacre removed from Hong Kong varsity A newspaper article from 1887 reported that a time capsule was hidden in the massive stone base of the bronze statue. The time capsule contained items from the Civil War such as buttons, bullets, Confederate currency, maps, a Bible, as well as a picture of Abraham Lincoln's coffin. In contrast, the time capsule opened Wednesday at the Department of Historical Resources in Richmond contained only three water-logged books, a photograph in a damp cloth envelope, and an unknown coin. Among the books was the 1875 American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac, which acted as a guide for astronomers, surveyors, and navigators. Also read | Researchers discover world's oldest family tree, by analysing DNA from 5,700 years old tomb There was also a book published in 1889, two years after the time capsule mentioned in the 1887 newspaper article was thought to have been buried, raising questions about its whereabouts and even if it ever existed. The book titled "The Huguenot Lovers: A Tale of the Old Dominion" was written by C.P.E. Burgwyn, who listed himself on the title page as a consultant engineer with the Lee Monument Association. Watch | Statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee removed In the wake of the murder of George Floyd by a white Minnesota police officer, Lee's statue became the focus of protests for racial justice in Richmond last year. Confederate South seceded from the United States during the Civil War and fought to maintain slavery that was abolished in the rest of the nation. (With inputs from agencies)

1875 almanac, other books found in a time capsule in US' Richmond

In his first admission of criminal wrongdoing in the case, Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, admitted violating the African-American man's civil rights.

Chauvin, 45, pleaded guilty in US District Court to federal charges of using excessive force. He held his knee to Floyd's neck for nearly 10 minutes on May 25, 2020.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-spite-of-the-anger-over-george-floyds-murder-minneapolis-votes-against-scrapping-police-department-426472">In spite of the anger over George Floyd's murder, Minneapolis votes against scrapping police department</a>

Chauvin admitted in a plea agreement with the Justice Department that "his willful use of unreasonable force resulted in Mr Floyd's bodily injury and death" and that he "knew that what he was doing was wrong."

"The defendant also knew there was no legal justification to continue his use of force because he was aware that Mr. Floyd not only stopped resisting, but also stopped talking, stopped moving, stopped breathing, and lost consciousness and a pulse," it said.

Also read |&nbsp;​​​​​​​<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ex-cop-convicted-of-george-floyds-murder-files-appeal-415631">Ex-cop convicted of George Floyd's murder files appeal</a>

A bystander's cellphone video of Floyd's death set off months of protests against police abuse of African-Americans throughout the country.

In another case, Chauvin admitted to violating the constitutional rights of a 14-year-old boy. Chauvin held the handcuffed boy face down on the ground and struck him multiple times on the head with a flashlight in that 2017 incident.

Also read |&nbsp;​​​​​​​<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/daunte-wright-trial-prosecutor-says-cop-betrayed-her-badge-defence-blames-the-slain-victim-435308">Daunte Wright trial: Prosecutor says cop 'betrayed her badge', defence blames the slain victim</a>

"While recognizing that nothing can repair the harm caused by such acts, the Justice Department is committed to holding accountable those who violate the Constitution, and to safeguarding the civil rights of all Americans," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

During a Minnesota state trial, Chauvin was convicted of the murder of Floyd, receiving a sentence of 22 and a half years in prison.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas US Edition | Black Lives Matter Movement: A WION Ground Report

Under the plea agreement, he will face a sentence of between 20 and 25 years in prison on the federal charges, which will run concurrently with or beyond the sentence in the state murder case.

That guarantees the former Minneapolis police officer will spend years behind bars, regardless of what happens with the appeal, he has filed on the state murder charge.

(With inputs from agencies)

In his first admission of criminal wrongdoing in the case, Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, admitted violating the African-American man's civil rights.

In his first admission of criminal wrongdoing in the case, Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, admitted violating the African-American man's civil rights. Chauvin, 45, pleaded guilty in US District Court to federal charges of using excessive force. He held his knee to Floyd's neck for nearly 10 minutes on May 25, 2020. Also read | In spite of the anger over George Floyd's murder, Minneapolis votes against scrapping police department Chauvin admitted in a plea agreement with the Justice Department that "his willful use of unreasonable force resulted in Mr Floyd's bodily injury and death" and that he "knew that what he was doing was wrong." "The defendant also knew there was no legal justification to continue his use of force because he was aware that Mr. Floyd not only stopped resisting, but also stopped talking, stopped moving, stopped breathing, and lost consciousness and a pulse," it said. Also read | Ex-cop convicted of George Floyd's murder files appeal A bystander's cellphone video of Floyd's death set off months of protests against police abuse of African-Americans throughout the country. In another case, Chauvin admitted to violating the constitutional rights of a 14-year-old boy. Chauvin held the handcuffed boy face down on the ground and struck him multiple times on the head with a flashlight in that 2017 incident. Also read | Daunte Wright trial: Prosecutor says cop 'betrayed her badge', defence blames the slain victim "While recognizing that nothing can repair the harm caused by such acts, the Justice Department is committed to holding accountable those who violate the Constitution, and to safeguarding the civil rights of all Americans," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. During a Minnesota state trial, Chauvin was convicted of the murder of Floyd, receiving a sentence of 22 and a half years in prison. Watch | Gravitas US Edition | Black Lives Matter Movement: A WION Ground Report Under the plea agreement, he will face a sentence of between 20 and 25 years in prison on the federal charges, which will run concurrently with or beyond the sentence in the state murder case. That guarantees the former Minneapolis police officer will spend years behind bars, regardless of what happens with the appeal, he has filed on the state murder charge. (With inputs from agencies)

White officer's 'first admission of guilt': Chauvin pleads guilty to violating George Floyd's civil rights

The defence attorney in the Ahmaud Arbery murder trial is facing backlash after he objected to the presence of black pastors.

Arbery, a 25-year-old Black jogger, was shot with a shotgun by three white men that resulted in his death.

Attorney Kevin Gough had said ''If their pastor is Al Sharpton right now, that's fine. But then that's it.''

''We don't want any more black pastors coming in here, Jesse Jackson, whoever, was in here earlier this week, sitting with the victim's family, trying to influence a jury in this case,'' he added.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahmaud-arbery-slain-black-mans-family-angry-that-jury-in-murder-trial-is-nearly-all-white-426874">Also read |&nbsp;Ahmaud Arbery: Slain Black man's family angry that jury in murder trial is nearly all-White</a>

It happened after leading civil rights leader, the Rev. Al Sharpton, was seen seated with the victim's family earlier in the court proceedings.

In making his objection on Thursday, Gough told Judge Timothy Walmsley "we want to keep politics out of this case," and suggested that the presence of figures like Sharpton or Jackson "could be consciously or unconsciously an attempt to pressure or influence the jury".

When Arbery's family asked for the removal of Gough from the case, he said ''My apologies to anyone who might've been inadvertently offended.''

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/prosecutors-play-video-footage-of-ahmaud-arberys-murder-in-court-427269">Also read |&nbsp;Prosecutors play video footage of Ahmaud Arbery's murder in court</a>

Gregory McMichael, 65, a retired police officer, his son Travis, 35, and their neighbor William "Roddie" Bryan, 52, are facing murder and other charges for the February 2020 shooting of&nbsp;Ahmaud Arbery. They face life in prison if convicted of murder.

The three defendants contend they mistook Arbery for a burglar in their Georgia neighborhood of Satilla Shores and invoked a since-repealed state law that allows ordinary citizens to make arrests.

A graphic video of the shooting of the unarmed Arbery went viral on social media and added fuel to last year's protests against racial injustice sparked by the murder of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, by a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

(With inputs from agencies)

The defence attorney in the Ahmaud Arbery murder trial is facing backlash after he objected to the presence of black pastors. Arbery, a 25-year-old Black jogger, was shot with a shotgun by three white men that resulted in his death.

The defence attorney in the Ahmaud Arbery murder trial is facing backlash after he objected to the presence of black pastors. Arbery, a 25-year-old Black jogger, was shot with a shotgun by three white men that resulted in his death. Attorney Kevin Gough had said ''If their pastor is Al Sharpton right now, that's fine. But then that's it.'' ''We don't want any more black pastors coming in here, Jesse Jackson, whoever, was in here earlier this week, sitting with the victim's family, trying to influence a jury in this case,'' he added. Also read | Ahmaud Arbery: Slain Black man's family angry that jury in murder trial is nearly all-White It happened after leading civil rights leader, the Rev. Al Sharpton, was seen seated with the victim's family earlier in the court proceedings. In making his objection on Thursday, Gough told Judge Timothy Walmsley "we want to keep politics out of this case," and suggested that the presence of figures like Sharpton or Jackson "could be consciously or unconsciously an attempt to pressure or influence the jury". When Arbery's family asked for the removal of Gough from the case, he said ''My apologies to anyone who might've been inadvertently offended.'' Also read | Prosecutors play video footage of Ahmaud Arbery's murder in court Gregory McMichael, 65, a retired police officer, his son Travis, 35, and their neighbor William "Roddie" Bryan, 52, are facing murder and other charges for the February 2020 shooting of Ahmaud Arbery. They face life in prison if convicted of murder. The three defendants contend they mistook Arbery for a burglar in their Georgia neighborhood of Satilla Shores and invoked a since-repealed state law that allows ordinary citizens to make arrests. A graphic video of the shooting of the unarmed Arbery went viral on social media and added fuel to last year's protests against racial injustice sparked by the murder of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, by a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (With inputs from agencies)

Ahmaud Arbery murder trial: Defence attorney faces backlash on comments about black pastors

Ahmaud Arbery's family has expressed outrage over the selection of an almost all-White jury in his murder trial.

Arbery, an African American, was killed during a confrontation with Gregory McMichael, his son Travis, and their neighbour William Bryan.

''It is outrageous that Black jurors were intentionally excluded to create such an imbalanced jury,'' said the family attorney Benjamin Crump.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/3-white-men-accused-in-killing-of-black-us-jogger-deny-hate-charges-384457">Also read |&nbsp;3 white men accused in killing of Black US jogger deny hate charges</a>

The jury in the high-profile case includes 11 White people and one Black person. It is due to be sworn in and hear opening statements on Friday.

''There appears to be intentional discrimination,'' said Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley.

He nevertheless accepted the "race-neutral" reasons offered by the defence lawyers of the three men accused of murder.

Interestingly, about 25 per cent of the population of Glynn County, where the trial is taking place is black. It has a total population of 85,000.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/first-challenge-in-george-floyd-murder-trial-finding-an-impartial-jury-368801">Also read |&nbsp;First challenge in George Floyd murder trial: Finding an impartial jury</a>

Previously, a small amount of THC, a psychoactive compound in marijuana, was found in Arbery's blood.

However, a Georgia judge ruled that Arbery's mental health records are not admissible as evidence.

A graphic video of the shooting of the unarmed Arbery went viral on social media and added fuel to last year's protests against racial injustice sparked by the murder of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African-American man, by a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The three men contend they mistook the jogger for a burglar active in their coastal neighborhood of Satilla Shores and invoked a Georgia law allowing ordinary citizens to make arrests.

Before Arbery's killing, the law had been largely unchanged since it was codified in 1863 when Georgia was part of the slaveholding Southern Confederacy during the US Civil War.

Arbery became one of the symbols of countrywide "Black Lives Matter" protests against racial injustice and police violence.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Ahmaud Arbery's family has expressed outrage over the selection of an almost all-White jury in his murder trial. Arbery, an African American, was killed during a confrontation with Gregory McMichael, his son Travis, and their neighbour William Bryan.

Ahmaud Arbery's family has expressed outrage over the selection of an almost all-White jury in his murder trial. Arbery, an African American, was killed during a confrontation with Gregory McMichael, his son Travis, and their neighbour William Bryan. ''It is outrageous that Black jurors were intentionally excluded to create such an imbalanced jury,'' said the family attorney Benjamin Crump. Also read | 3 white men accused in killing of Black US jogger deny hate charges The jury in the high-profile case includes 11 White people and one Black person. It is due to be sworn in and hear opening statements on Friday. ''There appears to be intentional discrimination,'' said Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley. He nevertheless accepted the "race-neutral" reasons offered by the defence lawyers of the three men accused of murder. Interestingly, about 25 per cent of the population of Glynn County, where the trial is taking place is black. It has a total population of 85,000. Also read | First challenge in George Floyd murder trial: Finding an impartial jury Previously, a small amount of THC, a psychoactive compound in marijuana, was found in Arbery's blood. However, a Georgia judge ruled that Arbery's mental health records are not admissible as evidence. A graphic video of the shooting of the unarmed Arbery went viral on social media and added fuel to last year's protests against racial injustice sparked by the murder of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African-American man, by a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The three men contend they mistook the jogger for a burglar active in their coastal neighborhood of Satilla Shores and invoked a Georgia law allowing ordinary citizens to make arrests. Before Arbery's killing, the law had been largely unchanged since it was codified in 1863 when Georgia was part of the slaveholding Southern Confederacy during the US Civil War. Arbery became one of the symbols of countrywide "Black Lives Matter" protests against racial injustice and police violence. (With inputs from agencies)

Ahmaud Arbery: Slain Black man's family angry that jury in murder trial is nearly all-White

After the Democratic election loss in Virginia governor race, US President Joe Biden has said that people in the country are ''upset and uncertain about a lot of things,'' seeking to deflect blame on his presidency.

Vowing to ''push very hard'' for his agenda, Biden said ''I do know people want us to get things done.''

"And that's why I'm continuing to push very hard for the Democratic Party to move along and pass my infrastructure bill and my Build Back Better bill."

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-president-biden-criticises-china-and-russia-for-missing-cop26-climate-summit-426383/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

However, Biden pushed back against the notion that the off-year election results were a repudiation of his presidency.

He suggested that his inability to get Congress to pass a $1 trillion infrastructure deal and a $1.75 trillion package of social and climate programmes ahead of the voting did not make a difference.

His remarks came after Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe lost to his Republican rival Glenn Youngkin in Virginia's governor race. In US elections 2020, Biden had won by 10 percentage points in the state.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/newcomer-republican-glenn-youngkin-becomes-virginia-governor-a-blow-to-bidens-democrats-426354" hreflang="en">Newcomer Republican Glenn Youngkin becomes Virginia governor, a blow to Biden's Democrats</a>

White House officials noted that while Virginia has leaned Democratic in recent years, the sitting president’s party has lost the governor’s race in 11 of 12 elections there.

There were also Republican gains across New York City and a conservative backlash to a liberal proposal in Minneapolis, the city where African American George Floyd was murdered by police, to dismantle the local force.&nbsp;

"Terry McAuliffe has been saying for weeks that his fate was tied to the progress of negotiations here on Capitol Hill," Senate majority whip Dick Durbin told reporters, echoing Biden.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/very-concerning-pentagon-report-says-china-could-have-1000-nuclear-warheads-by-2030-426519" hreflang="en">Pentagon report says China could have 1000 nuclear warheads by 2030</a>

"And there ought to be a clear message to my party and all those who support it to get the job done."

Biden is facing a thorny path to the November 2022 midterm elections. His approval ratings have also nosedived.

He has failed to bring together the increasingly polarised Democratic factions.

Despite his bold action on the climate in Glasgow at the weekend, he lacked tangible progress in Washington on his environmental goals reverberated through the COP26 summit, underscoring the damage being inflicted on his agenda by months of infighting.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

After the Democratic election loss in Virginia governor race, US President Joe Biden has said that people in the country are ''upset and uncertain about a lot of things,'' seeking to deflect blame on his presidency.

After the Democratic election loss in Virginia governor race, US President Joe Biden has said that people in the country are ''upset and uncertain about a lot of things,'' seeking to deflect blame on his presidency. Vowing to ''push very hard'' for his agenda, Biden said ''I do know people want us to get things done.'' "And that's why I'm continuing to push very hard for the Democratic Party to move along and pass my infrastructure bill and my Build Back Better bill." However, Biden pushed back against the notion that the off-year election results were a repudiation of his presidency. He suggested that his inability to get Congress to pass a $1 trillion infrastructure deal and a $1.75 trillion package of social and climate programmes ahead of the voting did not make a difference. His remarks came after Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe lost to his Republican rival Glenn Youngkin in Virginia's governor race. In US elections 2020, Biden had won by 10 percentage points in the state. Also read | Newcomer Republican Glenn Youngkin becomes Virginia governor, a blow to Biden's Democrats White House officials noted that while Virginia has leaned Democratic in recent years, the sitting president’s party has lost the governor’s race in 11 of 12 elections there. There were also Republican gains across New York City and a conservative backlash to a liberal proposal in Minneapolis, the city where African American George Floyd was murdered by police, to dismantle the local force. "Terry McAuliffe has been saying for weeks that his fate was tied to the progress of negotiations here on Capitol Hill," Senate majority whip Dick Durbin told reporters, echoing Biden. Also read | Pentagon report says China could have 1000 nuclear warheads by 2030 "And there ought to be a clear message to my party and all those who support it to get the job done." Biden is facing a thorny path to the November 2022 midterm elections. His approval ratings have also nosedived. He has failed to bring together the increasingly polarised Democratic factions. Despite his bold action on the climate in Glasgow at the weekend, he lacked tangible progress in Washington on his environmental goals reverberated through the COP26 summit, underscoring the damage being inflicted on his agenda by months of infighting. (With inputs from agencies)

People are upset and uncertain, says US President Joe Biden on poll drubbing for Democrats

18 months after African American George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis sparked protests for racial justice around the world, Minneapolis voters have chosen not to replace their police force with a new department that would have taken a holistic approach to crime.

The official election results show that over 56 per cent of Minneapolis residents voted against changing the city charter to create the new department, which would have provided "public safety functions through a comprehensive public health approach."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-school-mural-was-supposed-to-celebrate-black-lives-instead-it-was-destroyed-425605">A school mural was supposed to celebrate Black Lives. Instead, it was destroyed.</a>

The murder of Floyd a 46-year-old black man by a white police officer in May 2020 had triggered protests in Minneapolis and other US cities, with people calling for an end to police brutality and "defund the police."

Residents were angry about a policing system they considered irredeemably flawed and the ballot initiative arose out of that anger.&nbsp;

However, even those who supported scrapping the Minneapolis police department rejected this. In place of disbanding all armed officers, they recommended rethinking how and when police are used.

The failure of the amendment goes a long way to prove that even in liberal cities where scepticism of the police is strong, many Americans are unwilling to do away with the police.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ex-cop-convicted-of-george-floyds-murder-files-appeal-415631">Ex-cop convicted of George Floyd's murder files appeal</a>

Leili Fatehi, campaign manager for All of Mpls, which campaigned against dissolving the police department, said voters gave a clear mandate for continuing to work on reforms within the structure of the agency.

According to her, neither side of the ballot measure is happy with the status quo of policing in the city, but they disagree on how best to make changes.

Fatehi said that they hoped to see Minneapolis residents work together to hold the next mayor and City Council accountable so they would roll up their sleeves and get to work.

If the Minneapolis ballot measure had passed, the city council and the mayor would have been responsible for determining the functions of the Department of Public Safety. Additionally, social workers and mental health experts would have been more prominent in the department.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-a-new-covid-pandemic-emerging-or-is-it-an-endemic-now-experts-answer-426439" hreflang="en">Is a new&nbsp;Covid&nbsp;pandemic&nbsp;emerging or is it an endemic now? Experts answer</a>

The new department could have included "licensed peace officers (police officers), if necessary, to fulfill its responsibilities for public safety," according to the ballot measure.

In the months since Floyd's murder, several large cities, including Minneapolis, have invested more money in mental health programs, and have experimented with social workers being dispatched instead of armed police officers.

Responding to a national call to defund, some departments had curtailed minor traffic stops and arrests, and some had cut police budgets. However, since then, in response to rising gun violence and shifting politics, some have restored funding.

But, it is worth noting that no large city went as far as getting rid of its police force and replacing it with something new.

(With inputs from agencies)

18 months after African American George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis sparked protests for racial justice around the world, Minneapolis voters have chosen not to replace their police force with a new department that would have taken a holistic approach to crime.

18 months after African American George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis sparked protests for racial justice around the world, Minneapolis voters have chosen not to replace their police force with a new department that would have taken a holistic approach to crime. The official election results show that over 56 per cent of Minneapolis residents voted against changing the city charter to create the new department, which would have provided "public safety functions through a comprehensive public health approach." Also read | A school mural was supposed to celebrate Black Lives. Instead, it was destroyed. The murder of Floyd a 46-year-old black man by a white police officer in May 2020 had triggered protests in Minneapolis and other US cities, with people calling for an end to police brutality and "defund the police." Residents were angry about a policing system they considered irredeemably flawed and the ballot initiative arose out of that anger. However, even those who supported scrapping the Minneapolis police department rejected this. In place of disbanding all armed officers, they recommended rethinking how and when police are used. The failure of the amendment goes a long way to prove that even in liberal cities where scepticism of the police is strong, many Americans are unwilling to do away with the police. Also read | Ex-cop convicted of George Floyd's murder files appeal Leili Fatehi, campaign manager for All of Mpls, which campaigned against dissolving the police department, said voters gave a clear mandate for continuing to work on reforms within the structure of the agency. According to her, neither side of the ballot measure is happy with the status quo of policing in the city, but they disagree on how best to make changes. Fatehi said that they hoped to see Minneapolis residents work together to hold the next mayor and City Council accountable so they would roll up their sleeves and get to work. If the Minneapolis ballot measure had passed, the city council and the mayor would have been responsible for determining the functions of the Department of Public Safety. Additionally, social workers and mental health experts would have been more prominent in the department. Also read | Is a new Covid pandemic emerging or is it an endemic now? Experts answer The new department could have included "licensed peace officers (police officers), if necessary, to fulfill its responsibilities for public safety," according to the ballot measure. In the months since Floyd's murder, several large cities, including Minneapolis, have invested more money in mental health programs, and have experimented with social workers being dispatched instead of armed police officers. Responding to a national call to defund, some departments had curtailed minor traffic stops and arrests, and some had cut police budgets. However, since then, in response to rising gun violence and shifting politics, some have restored funding. But, it is worth noting that no large city went as far as getting rid of its police force and replacing it with something new. (With inputs from agencies)

In spite of the anger over George Floyd's murder, Minneapolis votes against scrapping police department

Former Minneapolis police officer&nbsp;Derek&nbsp;Chauvin has appealed his conviction for the murder of George Floyd, citing 14 complaints about his high-profile trial earlier this year in a case that roiled the United States and laid bare deep racial divisions.

The killing of Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, in May 2020 went viral after being caught on camera and sparked America's biggest demonstrations for racial justice in decades.

Chauvin, who in June was sentenced to more than 22 years in prison for killing Floyd by kneeling on his neck for nearly 10 minutes, appealed the conviction Thursday night with a Minnesota district court, on the last day he was able to do so.&nbsp;

He accuses the state of prejudicial misconduct and lists multiple issues with the jury selected for the trial, among other objections.

The former police officer accuses the court of "abusing its discretion" by denying requests to postpone or move the trial, and refusing to sequester the jury for its duration.

Chauvin, a 45-year-old white man, was filmed kneeling on Floyd's neck, indifferent to the dying man's groans and to the pleas of distraught passers-by.

Floyd repeatedly said "I can't breathe" before he died.

The scene, filmed and uploaded by a young woman, quickly spread around the world.

Hundreds of thousands of people subsequently poured onto streets across the country and overseas to demand an end to racism and police brutality.

The&nbsp;ex-cop&nbsp;and three of his colleagues arrested Floyd on suspicion of having passed a fake $20 bill in a store in Minneapolis, a northern city of around 400,000 people.&nbsp;

They handcuffed him and pinned him to the ground in the street.

In the filed documents, Chauvin said he has no income and no legal representation in the appeals process. A defense fund that paid for his representation during the trial was terminated after his sentencing.

<h2>Relief at risk&nbsp;</h2>

The sacked police officer, who was present for the full six weeks of his trial, did not testify, invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

His lawyer said he had followed police procedures in force at the time and that Floyd's death was due to health problems exacerbated by drug use.

But, at the end of the high-profile trial in April, a jury took less than 10 hours to convict Chauvin of Floyd's murder.&nbsp;

He was found guilty on all three charges -- second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.

The other three police officers are to face state charges next year for their roles in Floyd's death.

Chauvin's conviction was greeted with relief across the country.&nbsp;

Many had feared an acquittal would lead to worse unrest, while others worried that once again a white police officer would get away with what they saw as murder.

The Floyd family's lawyer called the sentencing a "historic" step towards racial reconciliation in the United States.

Chauvin had a record of using excessive force before the unarmed Floyd died under his knee.

At the end of the trial, Chauvin offered his condolences to the Floyd family and said: "There's going to be some other information in the future that would be of interest and I hope things will give you some peace of mind," without elaborating.

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has appealed his conviction for the murder of George Floyd, citing 14 complaints about his high-profile trial earlier this year in a case that roiled the United States and laid bare deep racial divisions.

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has appealed his conviction for the murder of George Floyd, citing 14 complaints about his high-profile trial earlier this year in a case that roiled the United States and laid bare deep racial divisions. The killing of Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, in May 2020 went viral after being caught on camera and sparked America's biggest demonstrations for racial justice in decades. Chauvin, who in June was sentenced to more than 22 years in prison for killing Floyd by kneeling on his neck for nearly 10 minutes, appealed the conviction Thursday night with a Minnesota district court, on the last day he was able to do so. He accuses the state of prejudicial misconduct and lists multiple issues with the jury selected for the trial, among other objections. The former police officer accuses the court of "abusing its discretion" by denying requests to postpone or move the trial, and refusing to sequester the jury for its duration. Chauvin, a 45-year-old white man, was filmed kneeling on Floyd's neck, indifferent to the dying man's groans and to the pleas of distraught passers-by. Floyd repeatedly said "I can't breathe" before he died. The scene, filmed and uploaded by a young woman, quickly spread around the world. Hundreds of thousands of people subsequently poured onto streets across the country and overseas to demand an end to racism and police brutality. The ex-cop and three of his colleagues arrested Floyd on suspicion of having passed a fake $20 bill in a store in Minneapolis, a northern city of around 400,000 people. They handcuffed him and pinned him to the ground in the street. In the filed documents, Chauvin said he has no income and no legal representation in the appeals process. A defense fund that paid for his representation during the trial was terminated after his sentencing. Relief at risk The sacked police officer, who was present for the full six weeks of his trial, did not testify, invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. His lawyer said he had followed police procedures in force at the time and that Floyd's death was due to health problems exacerbated by drug use. But, at the end of the high-profile trial in April, a jury took less than 10 hours to convict Chauvin of Floyd's murder. He was found guilty on all three charges -- second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. The other three police officers are to face state charges next year for their roles in Floyd's death. Chauvin's conviction was greeted with relief across the country. Many had feared an acquittal would lead to worse unrest, while others worried that once again a white police officer would get away with what they saw as murder. The Floyd family's lawyer called the sentencing a "historic" step towards racial reconciliation in the United States. Chauvin had a record of using excessive force before the unarmed Floyd died under his knee. At the end of the trial, Chauvin offered his condolences to the Floyd family and said: "There's going to be some other information in the future that would be of interest and I hope things will give you some peace of mind," without elaborating.

Ex-cop convicted of George Floyd's murder files appeal

Missouri Governor Mike Parson said on Tuesday he has granted pardons to Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the St. Louis couple who drew international attention for brandishing guns at racial justice protesters last year.

In addition to the McCloskeys, who are personal injury lawyers, the Republican governor also pardoned 10 other people on Friday, a document from his office showed.

Parson, a Republican,&nbsp;pardoned Mark McCloskey, who&nbsp;pleaded guilty&nbsp;in June to misdemeanor fourth-degree assault and was fined $750, and Patricia McCloskey, who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor harassment and was fined $2,000.

The McCloskeys, both lawyers in their 60s, said they felt threatened by the protesters, who were&nbsp;passing their home&nbsp;in June 2020 on their way to demonstrate in front of the mayor’s house nearby in one of hundreds of similar demonstrations around the country after the killing of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white Minneapolis police officer.

The couple also said the group was trespassing on a private street.

Mark McCloskey emerged from his home with an AR-15-style rifle, and Patricia McCloskey waved a semiautomatic pistol, according to the indictment. Photos and cellphone video captured the confrontation, which drew widespread attention and made the couple heroes to some and villains to others.

A St. Louis grand jury indicted the couple on felony unlawful use of a weapon and tampering charges four months after the incident.

Because the charges were misdemeanors, the McCloskeys did not face the possibility of losing their law licenses or their rights to own firearms.

Last July, then-President Donald Trump, a Republican, said charging the couple was an abuse of power.

In a live broadcast, the McCloskeys spoke from their home at the Republican National Convention in August. Mark McCloskey announced last month he was running for a US&nbsp;Senate seat in Missouri as a Republican.

(With inputs from agencies)

Missouri Governor Mike Parson said on Tuesday he has granted pardons to Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the St. Louis couple who drew international attention for brandishing guns at racial justice protesters last year.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson said on Tuesday he has granted pardons to Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the St. Louis couple who drew international attention for brandishing guns at racial justice protesters last year. In addition to the McCloskeys, who are personal injury lawyers, the Republican governor also pardoned 10 other people on Friday, a document from his office showed. Parson, a Republican, pardoned Mark McCloskey, who pleaded guilty in June to misdemeanor fourth-degree assault and was fined $750, and Patricia McCloskey, who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor harassment and was fined $2,000. The McCloskeys, both lawyers in their 60s, said they felt threatened by the protesters, who were passing their home in June 2020 on their way to demonstrate in front of the mayor’s house nearby in one of hundreds of similar demonstrations around the country after the killing of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white Minneapolis police officer. The couple also said the group was trespassing on a private street. Mark McCloskey emerged from his home with an AR-15-style rifle, and Patricia McCloskey waved a semiautomatic pistol, according to the indictment. Photos and cellphone video captured the confrontation, which drew widespread attention and made the couple heroes to some and villains to others. A St. Louis grand jury indicted the couple on felony unlawful use of a weapon and tampering charges four months after the incident. Because the charges were misdemeanors, the McCloskeys did not face the possibility of losing their law licenses or their rights to own firearms. Last July, then-President Donald Trump, a Republican, said charging the couple was an abuse of power. In a live broadcast, the McCloskeys spoke from their home at the Republican National Convention in August. Mark McCloskey announced last month he was running for a US Senate seat in Missouri as a Republican. (With inputs from agencies)

Missouri Governor Mike Parson pardons St. Louis lawyer couple who brandished guns at protesters

A statue of George Floyd that was defaced in Brooklyn has been cleaned and is headed for Manhattan's Union Square. 
The artwork was unveiled on the Juneteenth holiday in a spot on Flatbush Avenue. Five days later on June 24, it was vandalised with black paint and marked with the logo of a white supremacist group.

But members of the group that installed the statue painstakingly cleaned it, and local residents and one of Floyd's brothers gathered around it this week to bid farewell ahead of its long-planned move to Union Square as part of an exhibition in September.

"I heard the news about the vandalism. I was so proud that I got word that Flatbush held it down. They really supported us, looked out for the statue, looked out for the spirit of my brother," Terrence Floyd said at the gathering.

He added to news reporters: "You try to stop us, but you can't stop us. And we still gonna continue, with love." 
Andrew Cohen of Confront Art, the group behind the statue, said people spent hours cleaning off the paint with toothbrushes and hands.

"The only method that worked was really, really putting the elbow grease into it," he said. The statue is going back to a studio on Monday for further cleaning.

No arrests have been made in the vandalism.&nbsp;

A statue of George Floyd that was defaced in Brooklyn has been cleaned and is headed for Manhattan's Union Square. The artwork was unveiled on the Juneteenth holiday in a spot on Flatbush Avenue.

A statue of George Floyd that was defaced in Brooklyn has been cleaned and is headed for Manhattan's Union Square. The artwork was unveiled on the Juneteenth holiday in a spot on Flatbush Avenue. Five days later on June 24, it was vandalised with black paint and marked with the logo of a white supremacist group. But members of the group that installed the statue painstakingly cleaned it, and local residents and one of Floyd's brothers gathered around it this week to bid farewell ahead of its long-planned move to Union Square as part of an exhibition in September. "I heard the news about the vandalism. I was so proud that I got word that Flatbush held it down. They really supported us, looked out for the statue, looked out for the spirit of my brother," Terrence Floyd said at the gathering. He added to news reporters: "You try to stop us, but you can't stop us. And we still gonna continue, with love." Andrew Cohen of Confront Art, the group behind the statue, said people spent hours cleaning off the paint with toothbrushes and hands. "The only method that worked was really, really putting the elbow grease into it," he said. The statue is going back to a studio on Monday for further cleaning. No arrests have been made in the vandalism.

After vandalism, NYC George Floyd statue cleaned, will move

Timeline of the revolution sparked by George Floyd's death

Amid the celebration after the sentencing of ex-police officer Derek Chauvin to 22 ½ years in prison for the murder of George Floyd, comes a piece of grim news.

In New York, less than a week after its unveiling, a statue of Floyd was found defaced and marked with a neo-Nazi group’s name.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chauvin-gets-22-12-years-in-prison-for-george-floyds-death-394037">Chauvin gets 22 1/2 years in prison for George Floyd's death</a>

The statue was found covered in paint, with an inscription of the American far-right cell “Patriot Front”, a group that is defined as a “white nationalist hate group’ by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The group is also believed to be behind another similar defacing in New Jersey. There,&nbsp;a bronze statue of Floyd in front of the town hall of Newark was covered in paint.

A video released by authorities showed four individuals participating in this vandalism. One of them can be seen holding a paint spray can.

New York police said that they are investigating the attack on the monument.

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo tweeted, "I'm going to be absolutely clear with the neo-Nazi group that did this: get out of our state," adding that special agents from the Hate Crimes Task Force would offer to help the investigation.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I am directing the <a href="https://twitter.com/nyspolice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nyspolice</a> Hate Crimes Task Force to assist in the investigation of the defacing of the George Floyd monument in Brooklyn. 
 
To the group of neo-Nazis who did this, I want to be absolutely clear: get the hell out of our state. <a href="https://t.co/Mjkpn4lVLZ">pic.twitter.com/Mjkpn4lVLZ</a>
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYGovCuomo/status/1408248987572850690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

In a Twitter post, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio commented "We will bring these cowards to justice".

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Last night a far-right extremist group vandalized a statue of George Floyd in Brooklyn. A racist, loathsome, despicable act of hate. 
 
The City Cleanup Corps is repairing the statue right now and a hate crime investigation is underway. We will bring these cowards to justice. <a href="https://t.co/mTwzwIyG4z">pic.twitter.com/mTwzwIyG4z</a>
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYCMayor/status/1408149957593473024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

This six-foot wooden statue was made by artist Chris Carnabuci and was inaugurated as a part of Juneteenth (June 19th) celebrations in the presence of George Floyd’s brother, Terrence Floyd.

Amid the celebration after the sentencing of ex-police officer Derek Chauvin to 22 ½ years in prison for the murder of George Floyd, comes a piece of grim news. In New York, less than a week after its unveiling, a statue of Floyd was found defaced and marked with a neo-Nazi group’s name.

Amid the celebration after the sentencing of ex-police officer Derek Chauvin to 22 ½ years in prison for the murder of George Floyd, comes a piece of grim news. In New York, less than a week after its unveiling, a statue of Floyd was found defaced and marked with a neo-Nazi group’s name. Also read | Chauvin gets 22 1/2 years in prison for George Floyd's death The statue was found covered in paint, with an inscription of the American far-right cell “Patriot Front”, a group that is defined as a “white nationalist hate group’ by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The group is also believed to be behind another similar defacing in New Jersey. There, a bronze statue of Floyd in front of the town hall of Newark was covered in paint. A video released by authorities showed four individuals participating in this vandalism. One of them can be seen holding a paint spray can. New York police said that they are investigating the attack on the monument. New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo tweeted, "I'm going to be absolutely clear with the neo-Nazi group that did this: get out of our state," adding that special agents from the Hate Crimes Task Force would offer to help the investigation. I am directing the @nyspolice Hate Crimes Task Force to assist in the investigation of the defacing of the George Floyd monument in Brooklyn. To the group of neo-Nazis who did this, I want to be absolutely clear: get the hell out of our state. pic.twitter.com/Mjkpn4lVLZ — Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) June 25, 2021 × In a Twitter post, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio commented "We will bring these cowards to justice". Last night a far-right extremist group vandalized a statue of George Floyd in Brooklyn. A racist, loathsome, despicable act of hate. The City Cleanup Corps is repairing the statue right now and a hate crime investigation is underway. We will bring these cowards to justice. pic.twitter.com/mTwzwIyG4z — Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) June 24, 2021 × This six-foot wooden statue was made by artist Chris Carnabuci and was inaugurated as a part of Juneteenth (June 19th) celebrations in the presence of George Floyd’s brother, Terrence Floyd.

George Floyd's New York statue defaced, marked with neo-Nazi group's name

IN PICS | US celebrates Derek Chauvin verdict and justice to George Floyd

Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced on Friday to 22 1/2 years in prison for the murder of George Floyd, whose dying gasps under Chauvin's knee led to the biggest outcry against racial injustice in the US&nbsp;in generations.

The punishment, which came after Chauvin broke his year-long silence to offer condolences to the Floyd family and express hope that they eventually have 'some peace of mind', is one of the longest prison terms ever imposed on a US police officer in the killing of a Black person.

Still, Floyd family members and others were disappointed. The sentence fell short of the 30 years prosecutors had requested. And with good behaviour, Chauvin, 45, could get out on parole after serving two-thirds of his sentence, or about 15 years.

"Just because it's the most time doesn't mean it's enough time," said Nekima Levy Armstrong, a Minneapolis protest leader.

Judge Peter Cahill went beyond the 12 1/2-year sentence prescribed under state guidelines, citing Chauvin's 'abuse of a position of trust and authority and also the particular cruelty' shown to Floyd.

Floyd family attorney Ben Crump said the family had gotten 'some measure of accountability' but is hoping Chauvin gets the maximum at his upcoming federal civil rights trial. Crump said this was the longest sentence a police officer has ever received in Minnesota.

But he added: "Real justice in America will be Black men and Black women and people of colour, who will not have to fear being killed by the police just because the color of their skin. That would be real justice."

Outside the courthouse, a crowd of about 50 people clasped hands or placed them on each other's shoulders. The reaction was subdued as people debated whether the sentence was long enough. Some cursed in disgust.

At George Floyd Square, as the intersection where Floyd was pinned to the pavement is now known, members of the crowd broke into applause, and several said, "We'll take it."

Chauvin was immediately led back to prison. He showed little emotion when the judge pronounced the sentence. His eyes moved rapidly around the courtroom, his COVID-19 mask obscuring much of his face.

(With inputs from agencies)

Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced on Friday to 22 1/2 years in prison for the murder of George Floyd, whose dying gasps under Chauvin's knee led to the biggest outcry against racial injustice in the US in generations.

Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced on Friday to 22 1/2 years in prison for the murder of George Floyd, whose dying gasps under Chauvin's knee led to the biggest outcry against racial injustice in the US in generations. The punishment, which came after Chauvin broke his year-long silence to offer condolences to the Floyd family and express hope that they eventually have 'some peace of mind', is one of the longest prison terms ever imposed on a US police officer in the killing of a Black person. Still, Floyd family members and others were disappointed. The sentence fell short of the 30 years prosecutors had requested. And with good behaviour, Chauvin, 45, could get out on parole after serving two-thirds of his sentence, or about 15 years. "Just because it's the most time doesn't mean it's enough time," said Nekima Levy Armstrong, a Minneapolis protest leader. Judge Peter Cahill went beyond the 12 1/2-year sentence prescribed under state guidelines, citing Chauvin's 'abuse of a position of trust and authority and also the particular cruelty' shown to Floyd. Floyd family attorney Ben Crump said the family had gotten 'some measure of accountability' but is hoping Chauvin gets the maximum at his upcoming federal civil rights trial. Crump said this was the longest sentence a police officer has ever received in Minnesota. But he added: "Real justice in America will be Black men and Black women and people of colour, who will not have to fear being killed by the police just because the color of their skin. That would be real justice." Outside the courthouse, a crowd of about 50 people clasped hands or placed them on each other's shoulders. The reaction was subdued as people debated whether the sentence was long enough. Some cursed in disgust. At George Floyd Square, as the intersection where Floyd was pinned to the pavement is now known, members of the crowd broke into applause, and several said, "We'll take it." Chauvin was immediately led back to prison. He showed little emotion when the judge pronounced the sentence. His eyes moved rapidly around the courtroom, his COVID-19 mask obscuring much of his face. (With inputs from agencies)

Chauvin gets 22 1/2 years in prison for George Floyd's death

Derek Chauvin, 45, was convicted in April of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for pressing his knee against Floyd’s neck for about 10 minutes.

US: Derek Chauvin faces sentencing in George Floyd’s death

Americans marked the federal holiday commemorated the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans, called Juneteenth, long a regional holiday in the US South that was given a national spotlight following the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020.

Black Lives Matter: George Floyd statue unveiled in Brooklyn

Prosecutors on Wednesday asked a US judge to sentence the white former police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, an unarmed Black man whose death last year sparked nationwide protests, to 30 years in prison.

Attorneys for the Minneapolis officer, Derek&nbsp;Chauvin, countered with a far different request, a sentence of time served and probation, claiming that their client was guilty of "an error made in good faith."

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/chauvin-was-convicted-something-is-still-very-wrong-380118">Chauvin was convicted. Something is still very wrong</a>

In court documents sent ahead of the June 25 sentencing hearing, prosecutors in Minnesota called actions by the 45-year-old&nbsp;Chauvin&nbsp;an "egregious abuse" of his position.

"Defendant's conduct was also particularly cruel," prosecutors said.

They recalled that Judge Peter Cahill had ruled there were four aggravating factors in the case, allowing him to depart from state sentencing guidelines and clearing the path for a tough sentence.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/early-testimony-for-defence-derek-chauvins-use-of-force-on-george-floyd-was-justified-377509">Early testimony for defence: Derek Chauvin’s use of force on George Floyd was ‘justified’</a>

Chauvin&nbsp;was captured on video kneeling on the neck of the 46-year-old Floyd, suspected of using a counterfeit bill, for more than nine minutes until he passed out and died on May 25, 2020, while ignoring the victim's pleas for air and help.

The video of Floyd's death, which went viral, sparked huge protests across the United States and around the world against racism and police violence.&nbsp;

After a trial lasting several weeks,&nbsp;Chauvin&nbsp;was convicted of murder on April 20 and immediately jailed.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-ex-cop-derek-chauvin-found-guilty-of-murder-manslaughter-in-the-death-of-george-floyd-378898">US ex-cop Derek Chauvin found guilty of murder, manslaughter in the death of George Floyd</a>

The most serious charge that he was convicted of, second-degree murder, carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

As a first-time offender,&nbsp;Chauvin&nbsp;had potentially faced 12 and a half years in prison on that count under the guidelines, but the aggravating factors mean Cahill can opt for a longer jail term.

Lawyers for&nbsp;Chauvin&nbsp;said he was seeking "a probationary sentence with an incarceration period of time served."

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/derek-chauvin-trial-murder-case-against-ex-cop-in-george-floyds-death-goes-to-jury-378760">Derek Chauvin trial: Murder case against ex-cop in George Floyd's death goes to jury</a>

As an alternative,&nbsp;Chauvin&nbsp;"respectfully requests that the court grant him a downward durational departure," or a sentence lower than what the guidelines suggest, his lawyer Eric Nelson wrote.

Aside from the "long-term damage a prison sentence would inflict upon Mr&nbsp;Chauvin's life prospects, given his age, convictions for officer-involved offenses significantly increase the likelihood of him becoming a target in prison," Nelson wrote.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/year-after-george-floyds-death-poll-reveals-how-americans-feel-about-race-relations-386054">Year after George Floyd's death, poll reveals how Americans feel about race relations</a>

Chauvin&nbsp;"was unaware that he was even committing a crime," he wrote, adding: "In fact, in his mind, he was simply performing his lawful duty in assisting other officers in the arrest of George Floyd."

"Mr&nbsp;Chauvin's offense is best described as an error made in good faith... not intentional commission of an illegal act," the lawyer said.

Chauvin&nbsp;also faces separate federal civil rights charges in connection with Floyd's death.

Prosecutors on Wednesday asked a US judge to sentence the white former police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, an unarmed Black man whose death last year sparked nationwide protests, to 30 years in prison.

Prosecutors on Wednesday asked a US judge to sentence the white former police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, an unarmed Black man whose death last year sparked nationwide protests, to 30 years in prison. Attorneys for the Minneapolis officer, Derek Chauvin, countered with a far different request, a sentence of time served and probation, claiming that their client was guilty of "an error made in good faith." Also Read | Chauvin was convicted. Something is still very wrong In court documents sent ahead of the June 25 sentencing hearing, prosecutors in Minnesota called actions by the 45-year-old Chauvin an "egregious abuse" of his position. "Defendant's conduct was also particularly cruel," prosecutors said. They recalled that Judge Peter Cahill had ruled there were four aggravating factors in the case, allowing him to depart from state sentencing guidelines and clearing the path for a tough sentence. Also Read | Early testimony for defence: Derek Chauvin’s use of force on George Floyd was ‘justified’ Chauvin was captured on video kneeling on the neck of the 46-year-old Floyd, suspected of using a counterfeit bill, for more than nine minutes until he passed out and died on May 25, 2020, while ignoring the victim's pleas for air and help. The video of Floyd's death, which went viral, sparked huge protests across the United States and around the world against racism and police violence. After a trial lasting several weeks, Chauvin was convicted of murder on April 20 and immediately jailed. Also Read | US ex-cop Derek Chauvin found guilty of murder, manslaughter in the death of George Floyd The most serious charge that he was convicted of, second-degree murder, carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. As a first-time offender, Chauvin had potentially faced 12 and a half years in prison on that count under the guidelines, but the aggravating factors mean Cahill can opt for a longer jail term. Lawyers for Chauvin said he was seeking "a probationary sentence with an incarceration period of time served." Also Read | Derek Chauvin trial: Murder case against ex-cop in George Floyd's death goes to jury As an alternative, Chauvin "respectfully requests that the court grant him a downward durational departure," or a sentence lower than what the guidelines suggest, his lawyer Eric Nelson wrote. Aside from the "long-term damage a prison sentence would inflict upon Mr Chauvin's life prospects, given his age, convictions for officer-involved offenses significantly increase the likelihood of him becoming a target in prison," Nelson wrote. Also Read | Year after George Floyd's death, poll reveals how Americans feel about race relations Chauvin "was unaware that he was even committing a crime," he wrote, adding: "In fact, in his mind, he was simply performing his lawful duty in assisting other officers in the arrest of George Floyd." "Mr Chauvin's offense is best described as an error made in good faith... not intentional commission of an illegal act," the lawyer said. Chauvin also faces separate federal civil rights charges in connection with Floyd's death.

Prosecutors seek 30 years in jail for ex-cop Dereck Chauvin in George Floyd murder case

The city of Minneapolis on Thursday began reopening the intersection where George Floyd died, which became a memorial to the African American whose killing sparked a racial reckoning but has also been marred by violence.

City workers arrived before daybreak to remove concrete barriers blocking access to the intersection where the 46-year-old was killed by a white police officer who knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes on May 25, 2020.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/prosecutors-seek-30-year-sentence-in-george-floyd-murder-case-389135" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/prosecutors-seek-30-year-sentence-in-george-floyd-murder-case-389135&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjI05Hz7fvwAhUBH7cAHb0OB48QFjAAegQICRAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1sasOzasf6weyuZLKwZgjR" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/prosecutors-seek-30-year-sentence-in-george-floyd-murder-case-389135" target="_blank">Prosecutors seek 30-year sentence in&nbsp;George Floyd&nbsp;murder case</a>

They installed signs to create a roundabout encircling a statue of a huge raised fist erected in the center of what has been renamed "George Floyd Square."

For more than a year, equal rights activists have occupied the square, tying its reopening to the adoption of police reforms. A local residents association was on hand Thursday to defuse tensions with them as the city workers moved in.&nbsp;

The site has become a symbol of the fractures caused by racism and the oppression of Black people across the United States, and is illustrated with numerous murals, and community garden and other installations.&nbsp;

But it has also become a dangerous zone where the police are not welcome.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/one-year-after-floyds-death-family-urges-to-pass-police-reform-bill-388100">WATCH |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/one-year-after-floyds-death-family-urges-to-pass-police-reform-bill-388100/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Shootings are frequent, especially at night, and have resulted in a dozen deaths or injuries in the area in a year, according to law enforcement.&nbsp;

Police are not involved in the operation to reopen the intersection, a spokesman told AFP.&nbsp;

And the city is "taking great care to preserve artwork and artifacts" there, added a city council representative, Sarah McKenzie.

Authorities have long wanted to reopen the intersection but had been waiting for a conclusion in the trial of white police officer Derek Chauvin, who in April was convicted of killing Floyd.

To help the neighborhood bounce back, the Floyd family plans to invest $500,000 out of the $27 million they won in a wrongful death settlement against the city in local economic and cultural groups.

The city of Minneapolis on Thursday began reopening the intersection where George Floyd died, which became a memorial to the African American whose killing sparked a racial reckoning but has also been marred by violence.

The city of Minneapolis on Thursday began reopening the intersection where George Floyd died, which became a memorial to the African American whose killing sparked a racial reckoning but has also been marred by violence. City workers arrived before daybreak to remove concrete barriers blocking access to the intersection where the 46-year-old was killed by a white police officer who knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes on May 25, 2020. Also read | Prosecutors seek 30-year sentence in George Floyd murder case They installed signs to create a roundabout encircling a statue of a huge raised fist erected in the center of what has been renamed "George Floyd Square." For more than a year, equal rights activists have occupied the square, tying its reopening to the adoption of police reforms. A local residents association was on hand Thursday to defuse tensions with them as the city workers moved in. The site has become a symbol of the fractures caused by racism and the oppression of Black people across the United States, and is illustrated with numerous murals, and community garden and other installations. But it has also become a dangerous zone where the police are not welcome. WATCH | Shootings are frequent, especially at night, and have resulted in a dozen deaths or injuries in the area in a year, according to law enforcement. Police are not involved in the operation to reopen the intersection, a spokesman told AFP. And the city is "taking great care to preserve artwork and artifacts" there, added a city council representative, Sarah McKenzie. Authorities have long wanted to reopen the intersection but had been waiting for a conclusion in the trial of white police officer Derek Chauvin, who in April was convicted of killing Floyd. To help the neighborhood bounce back, the Floyd family plans to invest $500,000 out of the $27 million they won in a wrongful death settlement against the city in local economic and cultural groups.

US city of Minneapolis reopens intersection where George Floyd was killed

25 May marked the one-year anniversary of the Minneapolis man George Floyd in police custody that sparked worldwide protests that we know as the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. Even after the incident, US lawmakers have failed to pass comprehensive Police reform legislation. WION brings you a report.

One year after Floyd's death: Family urges to pass Police reform bill

As the US chanted 'Black Lives Matter' all around the city to mark one year since George Floyd's death, his family visited the White House to talk to the US President and urge stricter police reforms.

Floyd’s family was invited to the White House to meet <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a> and Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday in a private meeting.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
It’s been one year since George Floyd was murdered. In that time, George’s family has shown extraordinary courage. Last month’s conviction was a step towards justice – but we cannot stop there. 
 
We face an inflection point. We have to act.
— President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1397237895140888582?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/year-after-george-floyds-death-poll-reveals-how-americans-feel-about-race-relations-386054">Year after George Floyd's death, poll reveals how Americans feel about race relations</a>

This meeting was seen as a sign of change brought back by the Biden administration. The previous administration, led by Donald Trump, was infamous for lack of empathy and genuine emotion.

"It takes a lot of courage to go through it." Joe Biden said. "And they've been wonderful." Biden also laughed about how&nbsp;Floyd’s seven-year-old daughter asked for snacks when she came in and had cheetos and milk.

<img alt="George Floyd's family meets Joe Biden" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a9e41a5e-d9f9-45da-9ffd-8ee09d1b481a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/George%20Floyd%20%281%29.jpg" />

The family was more than happy to meet the Biden administration and described Biden to be a "genuine guy".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-year-after-george-floyd-los-angeles-confronts-its-future-and-its-past-387370" hreflang="en">A year after George Floyd, Los Angeles confronts its future and its past</a>

"They always speak from the heart and it's a pleasure just to be able to have the chance to meet with them when we have that opportunity to," Philonise, Floyd's brother, said.

While the private meeting, which went on for more than an hour, was criticised as a 'just for show' by some of the critics and opposition of the Biden administration, the Floyd family had an important task up their sleeve — police reform bill.

Floyd’s family has urged Biden to bring in a bill for stricter police reforms which will make sure such tragedies do not happen again.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/george-floyd-case-us-judge-postpones-trial-for-three-ex-cops-384839" hreflang="en">George Floyd case: US judge postpones trial for three ex-cops</a>

"If you can make federal laws to protect the bird which is the bald eagle, you can make federal law to protect people of colour," Philonise said.

Biden assured the family that the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act will soon be passed, under which chokeholds will be banned for the police.

"He let us know that he supports passing the bill, but he wants to make sure that it’s the right bill and not a rushed bill," Brandon Williams, Floyd’s nephew confirmed.

Floyd’s seven-year-old daughter, Gianna Floyd, was seen chanting "Say his name" while entering the White House and proudly claimed ‘daddy has changed the world’ when the leaders asked her about her deceased dad.

As the US chanted 'Black Lives Matter' all around the city to mark one year since George Floyd's death, his family visited the White House to talk to the US President and urge stricter police reforms.

As the US chanted 'Black Lives Matter' all around the city to mark one year since George Floyd's death, his family visited the White House to talk to the US President and urge stricter police reforms. Floyd’s family was invited to the White House to meet Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday in a private meeting. It’s been one year since George Floyd was murdered. In that time, George’s family has shown extraordinary courage. Last month’s conviction was a step towards justice – but we cannot stop there. We face an inflection point. We have to act. — President Biden (@POTUS) May 25, 2021 × Also read | Year after George Floyd's death, poll reveals how Americans feel about race relations This meeting was seen as a sign of change brought back by the Biden administration. The previous administration, led by Donald Trump, was infamous for lack of empathy and genuine emotion. "It takes a lot of courage to go through it." Joe Biden said. "And they've been wonderful." Biden also laughed about how Floyd’s seven-year-old daughter asked for snacks when she came in and had cheetos and milk. The family was more than happy to meet the Biden administration and described Biden to be a "genuine guy". Also read | A year after George Floyd, Los Angeles confronts its future and its past "They always speak from the heart and it's a pleasure just to be able to have the chance to meet with them when we have that opportunity to," Philonise, Floyd's brother, said. While the private meeting, which went on for more than an hour, was criticised as a 'just for show' by some of the critics and opposition of the Biden administration, the Floyd family had an important task up their sleeve — police reform bill. Floyd’s family has urged Biden to bring in a bill for stricter police reforms which will make sure such tragedies do not happen again. Also read | George Floyd case: US judge postpones trial for three ex-cops "If you can make federal laws to protect the bird which is the bald eagle, you can make federal law to protect people of colour," Philonise said. Biden assured the family that the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act will soon be passed, under which chokeholds will be banned for the police. "He let us know that he supports passing the bill, but he wants to make sure that it’s the right bill and not a rushed bill," Brandon Williams, Floyd’s nephew confirmed. Floyd’s seven-year-old daughter, Gianna Floyd, was seen chanting "Say his name" while entering the White House and proudly claimed ‘daddy has changed the world’ when the leaders asked her about her deceased dad.

Call for reforms, assurance and Cheetos: Floyd's family meets Biden on George's death anniversary

George Floyd's family met with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and congressional leaders on Tuesday, a year after Floyd was killed in Minneapolis police custody.

US: George Floyd's family visits US Capitol, marks one year of Floyd's killing

One year ago, George Floyd was murdered by a police officer in Minneapolis, and the streets of U.S. cities filled with protesters demanding an end to police killings, in the largest mass movement for civil rights in a generation.

In Los Angeles, the unrest that gripped the city for days evoked memories of 1992, when the city erupted in chaos after the acquittal of four officers in the beating of Rodney King.

But there was a crucial difference between 1992 and 2020.

After King, the unrest tore through South-Central Los Angeles, the heart of the Black community, leaving dozens dead and stores and buildings ablaze. After Floyd’s killing, the protests in Los Angeles were mainly in the whiter and richer Westside.

That was intentional, Patrisse Cullors, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter and a lifelong resident of Los Angeles, said last year. She described it as part of an effort to bring the voices of Black disenfranchisement to the communities that she said needed to hear them.

With the streets filled and activists calling not for reform but to “defund” police budgets and steer money toward social services, local leaders and voters seemed to embrace the spirit of the movement.

Mayor Eric M. Garcetti agreed to cut $150 million from the police budget, while voters elected a new district attorney, George Gascón, who promised to prosecute cops and send fewer people to prison. As recently as December, the city, facing a budget crunch as well as the racial justice movement, was considering laying off almost 1,000 police officers, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Now, as the nation observes the anniversary of Floyd’s murder, it is a much different story.

Los Angeles, like many big cities, is awash in new guns and continuing violence. Last year, there were 305 homicides, up 36% from the prior year, and the highest level in more than a decade.

“The number of guns that are out there is just astonishing,” Chief Michel Moore of the LAPD said in an interview.

And instead of cutting the police budget, the City Council recently approved an increase, and the department is about to start hiring more officers.

“If you want to abolish the police, you’re talking to the wrong mayor,” Garcetti recently said in his State of the City address, speaking from the Griffith Park Observatory, which offers panoramic views of the city below.

To contain the surge in gun violence, the LAPD is leaning on some of its old habits, having recently deployed an elite unit to South Los Angeles to stop vehicles for traffic violations in the search of guns and men with warrants. It’s a tactic the department sharply curtailed in recent years after a Los Angeles Times investigation revealed sharp racial inequities in the practice.

Moore said much of the gun violence was gang-related and he also blamed the despair and dislocation of the pandemic, which has closed schools and parks and limited the work of gang peacemakers. Pandemic-related delays in trials and the district attorney’s policy of largely eliminating cash bail have also put more criminals on the streets, he said.

“When those gun arrests are not going to court for months, there’s a sense that zero bail, court trials being deferred, delayed, there’s a sense that there’s a lack of consequences,” he said.

Just like the King beating, the murder of Floyd galvanized a generation of activists. Some who were drawn to community organizing in 1992 are still working the streets of Los Angeles, working alongside the police and trying to tamp down gang violence.

But unlike today’s new activists, who talk about abolition and defunding police budgets, Leon Gullette and other older activists believe in partnering with the police.

“We can’t operate without the police,” said Gullette, who started working for Community Build, which does gang intervention work in South Los Angeles, in 1992.

Lex Steppling, who runs a group called Dignity and Power Now, which advocates for police and prison reform, said: “More police doesn’t mean less gun violence. It just means more police.”

The rise in gun violence is nowhere near the levels of the 1990s, when in some years more than 1,000 people were killed in Los Angeles. The LAPD has changed drastically from the days when Daryl Gates led the department and officers routinely profiled Black citizens and used battering rams to knock down suspected drug houses.

As younger activists in Los Angeles take stock of their wins and setbacks over the last year, they say the biggest change may be the number of people who have been awakened to issues around the police and race, including the money communities spend on law enforcement.

“One of the big takeaways around the uprisings and attention to the Movement for Black Lives is there is more attention on public budgets,” said Ivette Alé, an organizer with Dignity and Power Now. “People know how much communities are spending on police and incarceration. You can’t unknow that.”

One year ago, George Floyd was murdered by a police officer in Minneapolis, and the streets of U.S. cities filled with protesters demanding an end to police killings, in the largest mass movement for civil rights in a generation.

One year ago, George Floyd was murdered by a police officer in Minneapolis, and the streets of U.S. cities filled with protesters demanding an end to police killings, in the largest mass movement for civil rights in a generation. In Los Angeles, the unrest that gripped the city for days evoked memories of 1992, when the city erupted in chaos after the acquittal of four officers in the beating of Rodney King. But there was a crucial difference between 1992 and 2020. After King, the unrest tore through South-Central Los Angeles, the heart of the Black community, leaving dozens dead and stores and buildings ablaze. After Floyd’s killing, the protests in Los Angeles were mainly in the whiter and richer Westside. That was intentional, Patrisse Cullors, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter and a lifelong resident of Los Angeles, said last year. She described it as part of an effort to bring the voices of Black disenfranchisement to the communities that she said needed to hear them. With the streets filled and activists calling not for reform but to “defund” police budgets and steer money toward social services, local leaders and voters seemed to embrace the spirit of the movement. Mayor Eric M. Garcetti agreed to cut $150 million from the police budget, while voters elected a new district attorney, George Gascón, who promised to prosecute cops and send fewer people to prison. As recently as December, the city, facing a budget crunch as well as the racial justice movement, was considering laying off almost 1,000 police officers, according to The Los Angeles Times. Now, as the nation observes the anniversary of Floyd’s murder, it is a much different story. Los Angeles, like many big cities, is awash in new guns and continuing violence. Last year, there were 305 homicides, up 36% from the prior year, and the highest level in more than a decade. “The number of guns that are out there is just astonishing,” Chief Michel Moore of the LAPD said in an interview. And instead of cutting the police budget, the City Council recently approved an increase, and the department is about to start hiring more officers. “If you want to abolish the police, you’re talking to the wrong mayor,” Garcetti recently said in his State of the City address, speaking from the Griffith Park Observatory, which offers panoramic views of the city below. To contain the surge in gun violence, the LAPD is leaning on some of its old habits, having recently deployed an elite unit to South Los Angeles to stop vehicles for traffic violations in the search of guns and men with warrants. It’s a tactic the department sharply curtailed in recent years after a Los Angeles Times investigation revealed sharp racial inequities in the practice. Moore said much of the gun violence was gang-related and he also blamed the despair and dislocation of the pandemic, which has closed schools and parks and limited the work of gang peacemakers. Pandemic-related delays in trials and the district attorney’s policy of largely eliminating cash bail have also put more criminals on the streets, he said. “When those gun arrests are not going to court for months, there’s a sense that zero bail, court trials being deferred, delayed, there’s a sense that there’s a lack of consequences,” he said. Just like the King beating, the murder of Floyd galvanized a generation of activists. Some who were drawn to community organizing in 1992 are still working the streets of Los Angeles, working alongside the police and trying to tamp down gang violence. But unlike today’s new activists, who talk about abolition and defunding police budgets, Leon Gullette and other older activists believe in partnering with the police. “We can’t operate without the police,” said Gullette, who started working for Community Build, which does gang intervention work in South Los Angeles, in 1992. Lex Steppling, who runs a group called Dignity and Power Now, which advocates for police and prison reform, said: “More police doesn’t mean less gun violence. It just means more police.” The rise in gun violence is nowhere near the levels of the 1990s, when in some years more than 1,000 people were killed in Los Angeles. The LAPD has changed drastically from the days when Daryl Gates led the department and officers routinely profiled Black citizens and used battering rams to knock down suspected drug houses. As younger activists in Los Angeles take stock of their wins and setbacks over the last year, they say the biggest change may be the number of people who have been awakened to issues around the police and race, including the money communities spend on law enforcement. “One of the big takeaways around the uprisings and attention to the Movement for Black Lives is there is more attention on public budgets,” said Ivette Alé, an organizer with Dignity and Power Now. “People know how much communities are spending on police and incarceration. You can’t unknow that.”

A year after George Floyd, Los Angeles confronts its future and its past

Members of George Floyd's family, and others who lost loved ones in police encounters, join the crowd for a march in Minneapolis, which was one of the series of events planned nationwide to mark the one-year anniversary of Floyd's death.

Minneapolis: Activists demand police reforms, ask 'one year of Floyd's death, what has changed?'

A body-cam video released by Louisiana authorities showed a Black man&nbsp;being tased, dragged, choked and beaten. The man&nbsp;later died and the authorities initially said the cause of death was a car crash during a police chace.

The incident took place on May 10, 2019 when police in northern Louisiana tried to stop a car driven by Ronald Greene, a 49-year-old barber, for what they said was an unspecified traffic violation.

Greene's relatives have been reported to have said that police initially told them that he died on impact when, during a chase, his car crashed into a tree.&nbsp;

But a written police report later said Greene survived the crash and struggled with troopers trying to arrest him. It said he died en route to a hospital.

Only later did Louisiana state police acknowledge that they had used force during the arrest, which they said was justified.&nbsp;

But the body-camera (body-cam) footage acquired by Associated Press and released by authorities late on May 22 shows a horrific scuffle.

The newly-released bodycam footage shows a high-speed chase and Louisiana state troopers punching&nbsp;Greene when he was already in handcuffs.

He was also dragged across the ground by shackled feet, and stunned with tasers as he cried, "I'm scared."

Greene, of West Monroe, Louisiana, led police on a high-speed chase after midnight of May 10, 2019, and crashed his car before being taken into custody, police said. He died in an ambulance on the way to a hospital.

An autopsy showed that Greene had alcohol and cocaine in his system, suffered multiple injuries from the crash, as well as injuries from a physical struggle. The manner of death was not listed.

Earlier this week, the case quickly became another national touchstone of alleged police abuse after the unauthorised release of police video by the Associated Press.

In response to that release, Colonel Lamar Davis, the superintendent of the Louisiana State Police held a late night press conference and said the department is releasing all the police bodycam video to add context to what has already been public.

Of the troopers involved, DaKota DeMoss was notified that the department intends to fire him and remains on leave pending another excessive use of force case, police said.

Master Trooper Chris Hollingsworth was also notified of the department's intent to dismiss him, but died hours later in a fatal car crash in 2020, police said.

Another trooper, Kory York, served a 50-hour suspension and is back on active duty.

The case is also the subject of a federal civil rights investigation.

(With inputs from agencies)

A body-cam video released by Louisiana authorities showed a Black man being tased, dragged, choked and beaten. The man later died and the authorities initially said the cause of death was a car crash during a police chace.

A body-cam video released by Louisiana authorities showed a Black man being tased, dragged, choked and beaten. The man later died and the authorities initially said the cause of death was a car crash during a police chace. The incident took place on May 10, 2019 when police in northern Louisiana tried to stop a car driven by Ronald Greene, a 49-year-old barber, for what they said was an unspecified traffic violation. Greene's relatives have been reported to have said that police initially told them that he died on impact when, during a chase, his car crashed into a tree. But a written police report later said Greene survived the crash and struggled with troopers trying to arrest him. It said he died en route to a hospital. Only later did Louisiana state police acknowledge that they had used force during the arrest, which they said was justified. But the body-camera (body-cam) footage acquired by Associated Press and released by authorities late on May 22 shows a horrific scuffle. The newly-released bodycam footage shows a high-speed chase and Louisiana state troopers punching Greene when he was already in handcuffs. He was also dragged across the ground by shackled feet, and stunned with tasers as he cried, "I'm scared." Greene, of West Monroe, Louisiana, led police on a high-speed chase after midnight of May 10, 2019, and crashed his car before being taken into custody, police said. He died in an ambulance on the way to a hospital. An autopsy showed that Greene had alcohol and cocaine in his system, suffered multiple injuries from the crash, as well as injuries from a physical struggle. The manner of death was not listed. Earlier this week, the case quickly became another national touchstone of alleged police abuse after the unauthorised release of police video by the Associated Press. In response to that release, Colonel Lamar Davis, the superintendent of the Louisiana State Police held a late night press conference and said the department is releasing all the police bodycam video to add context to what has already been public. Of the troopers involved, DaKota DeMoss was notified that the department intends to fire him and remains on leave pending another excessive use of force case, police said. Master Trooper Chris Hollingsworth was also notified of the department's intent to dismiss him, but died hours later in a fatal car crash in 2020, police said. Another trooper, Kory York, served a 50-hour suspension and is back on active duty. The case is also the subject of a federal civil rights investigation. (With inputs from agencies)

Police in US seen choking Black man they said died in car crash

A US judge postponed the trial of three former Minneapolis policemen accused of taking part in the murder of George Floyd to March 2022 after they said that prosecutors leaked prejudicial information about the case, according to media reports.

Tou Thao, 25, J. Alexander Kueng, 27, and Thomas Lane, 28, all fired and arrested days after Floyd was killed on May 25, have been charged with aiding and abetting the second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Former Minneapolis policeman Derek Chauvin was convicted on April 20 of murdering Floyd, 46, by kneeling on his neck for more than nine minutes, in a case that marked a milestone in America's fraught racial history and a rebuke of law enforcement’s treatment of Black Americans. The death, captured on cellphone video, led to protests around the nation and overseas.

On Thursday, attorneys for Thao, Kueng and Lane raised concerns that information had been leaked that would taint the jury pool, and that a key witness was coerced into amending his findings.

The attorneys said prosecutors leaked "damning" information to the New York Times about Chauvin's supposed plan to plead guilty and asked Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill to sanction prosecutors, including state Attorney General Keith Ellison.

In a statement, Ellison had earlier called the leak allegation "completely false and an outlandish attempt to disparage the prosecution."

Cahill postponed the trial from August 2021 to March 2022, the Wall Street Journal and other news media reported.

On May 25, Kueng and Lane were the first officers to arrive outside the food store where Floyd was accused of passing a counterfeit $20 bill to buy cigarettes. Thao arrived on the scene with Chauvin after Floyd had already been handcuffed.

Thao, Kueng, and Lane were not present at Thursday's hearing, and no cameras were permitted in the courtroom.

Thao's defence attorney also asked Cahill to drop all charges against Thao, and to rule that Andrew Baker, the Hennepin County medical examiner, was coerced into saying that Floyd died of asphyxiation.

According to the motion the attorney filed before the hearing, Dr. Roger Mitchell, Washington, D.C.'s chief medical examiner, was planning to write an opinion piece critical of Baker's initial findings. Thao's legal team claimed Baker had changed his findings to avoid controversy, and that prosecutors knew about it.

(With inputs from agencies)

A US judge postponed the trial of three former Minneapolis policemen accused of taking part in the murder of George Floyd to March 2022 after they said that prosecutors leaked prejudicial information about the case, according to media reports.

A US judge postponed the trial of three former Minneapolis policemen accused of taking part in the murder of George Floyd to March 2022 after they said that prosecutors leaked prejudicial information about the case, according to media reports. Tou Thao, 25, J. Alexander Kueng, 27, and Thomas Lane, 28, all fired and arrested days after Floyd was killed on May 25, have been charged with aiding and abetting the second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Former Minneapolis policeman Derek Chauvin was convicted on April 20 of murdering Floyd, 46, by kneeling on his neck for more than nine minutes, in a case that marked a milestone in America's fraught racial history and a rebuke of law enforcement’s treatment of Black Americans. The death, captured on cellphone video, led to protests around the nation and overseas. On Thursday, attorneys for Thao, Kueng and Lane raised concerns that information had been leaked that would taint the jury pool, and that a key witness was coerced into amending his findings. The attorneys said prosecutors leaked "damning" information to the New York Times about Chauvin's supposed plan to plead guilty and asked Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill to sanction prosecutors, including state Attorney General Keith Ellison. In a statement, Ellison had earlier called the leak allegation "completely false and an outlandish attempt to disparage the prosecution." Cahill postponed the trial from August 2021 to March 2022, the Wall Street Journal and other news media reported. On May 25, Kueng and Lane were the first officers to arrive outside the food store where Floyd was accused of passing a counterfeit $20 bill to buy cigarettes. Thao arrived on the scene with Chauvin after Floyd had already been handcuffed. Thao, Kueng, and Lane were not present at Thursday's hearing, and no cameras were permitted in the courtroom. Thao's defence attorney also asked Cahill to drop all charges against Thao, and to rule that Andrew Baker, the Hennepin County medical examiner, was coerced into saying that Floyd died of asphyxiation. According to the motion the attorney filed before the hearing, Dr. Roger Mitchell, Washington, D.C.'s chief medical examiner, was planning to write an opinion piece critical of Baker's initial findings. Thao's legal team claimed Baker had changed his findings to avoid controversy, and that prosecutors knew about it. (With inputs from agencies)

George Floyd case: US judge postpones trial for three ex-cops

A US federal grand jury on Friday indicted all four former Minneapolis police officers involved in the killing of George Floyd last year, including Derek Chauvin who was convicted of murder and manslaughter charges in April.

According to The Hill, the multicount indictment from the US District Court for the District of Minnesota, accuses Chauvin along with Thomas Lane, J Kueng and Tou Thao of violating Floyd`s constitutional rights.

All of the men were charged with failing to administer first aid to Floyd as Chauvin kneeled on his neck for more than nine minutes.

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/derek-chauvin-demands-new-trial-in-george-floyd-case-382897/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The indictment announced Friday states that the offenses violated the US Code known as the "colour of law" statute, something that Democrats in Congress have sought to change through the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

Under the George Floyd bill, which would implement sweeping national reforms to policing, "willfully" would be changed to "knowingly or recklessly," and the scope of the statute would also broaden.

Also read |<a href="George Floyd's death: Jury to hear opening arguments in Derek Chauvin trial ">&nbsp;George Floyd's death: Jury to hear opening arguments in Derek Chauvin trial&nbsp;</a>

Chauvin also was charged in a separate indictment related to an incident in which he allegedly used unreasonable force on a Minneapolis 14-year-old in September 2017, CNN reported citing a Justice Department statement on Friday.

Meanwhile, Chauvin will be sentenced on June 16. The Hennepin County District Court said that he will be sentenced at 1:30 pm (local time) on June 16, The Hill reported.

The 12 jurors found Chauvin guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd`s death in May 2020.

The maximum sentence for second-degree unintentional murder is imprisonment of not more than 40 years. The maximum sentence for third-degree murder is imprisonment of not more than 25 years.

The maximum sentence for second-degree manslaughter is 10 years and/or USD 20,000.US President Joe Biden later said that the verdict can be a giant step forward on the march towards justice in America.

"Today, a jury in Minnesota found former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin guilty of murdering George Floyd. The verdict is a step forward.

And while nothing can ever bring George Floyd back, this can be a giant step forward on the march towards justice in America," he said in an address to the nation.

Chauvin was the first white police officer in Minnesota to be convicted of murdering a Black person, and many in the country saw the high-profile trial as a referendum on policing in the US, according to The Hill.

A US federal grand jury on Friday indicted all four former Minneapolis police officers involved in the killing of George Floyd last year, including Derek Chauvin who was convicted of murder and manslaughter charges in April.

A US federal grand jury on Friday indicted all four former Minneapolis police officers involved in the killing of George Floyd last year, including Derek Chauvin who was convicted of murder and manslaughter charges in April. According to The Hill, the multicount indictment from the US District Court for the District of Minnesota, accuses Chauvin along with Thomas Lane, J Kueng and Tou Thao of violating Floyd`s constitutional rights. All of the men were charged with failing to administer first aid to Floyd as Chauvin kneeled on his neck for more than nine minutes. Watch | The indictment announced Friday states that the offenses violated the US Code known as the "colour of law" statute, something that Democrats in Congress have sought to change through the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Under the George Floyd bill, which would implement sweeping national reforms to policing, "willfully" would be changed to "knowingly or recklessly," and the scope of the statute would also broaden. Also read | George Floyd's death: Jury to hear opening arguments in Derek Chauvin trial Chauvin also was charged in a separate indictment related to an incident in which he allegedly used unreasonable force on a Minneapolis 14-year-old in September 2017, CNN reported citing a Justice Department statement on Friday. Meanwhile, Chauvin will be sentenced on June 16. The Hennepin County District Court said that he will be sentenced at 1:30 pm (local time) on June 16, The Hill reported. The 12 jurors found Chauvin guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd`s death in May 2020. The maximum sentence for second-degree unintentional murder is imprisonment of not more than 40 years. The maximum sentence for third-degree murder is imprisonment of not more than 25 years. The maximum sentence for second-degree manslaughter is 10 years and/or USD 20,000.US President Joe Biden later said that the verdict can be a giant step forward on the march towards justice in America. "Today, a jury in Minnesota found former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin guilty of murdering George Floyd. The verdict is a step forward. And while nothing can ever bring George Floyd back, this can be a giant step forward on the march towards justice in America," he said in an address to the nation. Chauvin was the first white police officer in Minnesota to be convicted of murdering a Black person, and many in the country saw the high-profile trial as a referendum on policing in the US, according to The Hill.

US grand jury indicts 4 ex-Minneapolis police officers in George Floyd's murder

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has asked a judge for a new trial two weeks after he was found guilty of murder and manslaughter in the killing of black man George Floyd.

Derek Chauvin demands new trial in George Floyd case

Police officers in Alameda,&nbsp;California, pinned a young man down for several minutes before he became unresponsive during an arrest last week, according to body camera footage the city released after his death

After Mario Gonzalez, 26, became unresponsive, officers used chest compression to try to revive him, according to footage of the April 19 incident, which was released late on Tuesday.

Gonzalez died in a hospital that day, according to an initial statement by the city last week.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bodycam-footage-cop-kneels-on-man-to-death-381239/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The new video, taken from the body cameras of several officers show Gonzalez twisting and turning as police repeatedly ask him to put his hands behind his back.

“The police killed my brother in the same manner they killed George Floyd,” said the dead man’s brother, Gerardo Gonzalez, at a news conference on Tuesday night, shortly after the body camera footage was released.

Police say the 26-year-old died of a medical emergency during a scuffle with officers last April 19, 2021. The officers had responded to a possible theft in the area and a call that came in about a disorderly and possibly intoxicated person. They spent more than 10 minutes unsuccessfully trying to figure out who he was and what he was doing there.

In Alameda, a city of nearly 80,000 people adjacent to Oakland, officers were dispatched to a park to check on Gonzalez after residents in two emergency 911 calls reported a man was loitering and appeared to be talking to himself, according to recordings of the calls released by the city.

The officers' body camera footage shows at least two officers approaching Gonzalez and trying to determine his identity. One officer asks where Gonzalez got what appear to be bottles of alcohol in one of two shopping baskets, and says he needs to identify him to make sure there are no outstanding arrest warrants for him.

The officers then try to take Gonzalez into custody and struggle to get both his hands behind his back, the footage shows. They tell the man to stop resisting and eventually wrestle him to the ground, with his body facing downward.

"Mario, please do not resist us," one of the officers says.

The officers then struggle for a little over five minutes to keep Gonzalez pinned and to get both his hands behind his back so they can handcuff him. One of the officers has his knee on the man's shoulder to hold him down.

They then check for a pulse. When Gonzalez does not respond, they turn him over and begin chest compression's before paramedics arrive.

Three investigations are underway into how the response led to Gonzalez's death, said Alameda city spokeswoman Sarah Henry. The probes are being carried out by the Alameda County Sheriff's Department, the Alameda County District Attorney's office, and an independent outside investigation, she said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Police officers in Alameda, California, pinned a young man down for several minutes before he became unresponsive during an arrest last week, according to body camera footage the city released after his death After Mario Gonzalez, 26, became unresponsive, officers used chest compression to try to revive him, according to footage of the April 19 incident, which was released late on Tuesday.

Police officers in Alameda, California, pinned a young man down for several minutes before he became unresponsive during an arrest last week, according to body camera footage the city released after his death After Mario Gonzalez, 26, became unresponsive, officers used chest compression to try to revive him, according to footage of the April 19 incident, which was released late on Tuesday. Gonzalez died in a hospital that day, according to an initial statement by the city last week. The new video, taken from the body cameras of several officers show Gonzalez twisting and turning as police repeatedly ask him to put his hands behind his back. “The police killed my brother in the same manner they killed George Floyd,” said the dead man’s brother, Gerardo Gonzalez, at a news conference on Tuesday night, shortly after the body camera footage was released. Police say the 26-year-old died of a medical emergency during a scuffle with officers last April 19, 2021. The officers had responded to a possible theft in the area and a call that came in about a disorderly and possibly intoxicated person. They spent more than 10 minutes unsuccessfully trying to figure out who he was and what he was doing there. In Alameda, a city of nearly 80,000 people adjacent to Oakland, officers were dispatched to a park to check on Gonzalez after residents in two emergency 911 calls reported a man was loitering and appeared to be talking to himself, according to recordings of the calls released by the city. The officers' body camera footage shows at least two officers approaching Gonzalez and trying to determine his identity. One officer asks where Gonzalez got what appear to be bottles of alcohol in one of two shopping baskets, and says he needs to identify him to make sure there are no outstanding arrest warrants for him. The officers then try to take Gonzalez into custody and struggle to get both his hands behind his back, the footage shows. They tell the man to stop resisting and eventually wrestle him to the ground, with his body facing downward. "Mario, please do not resist us," one of the officers says. The officers then struggle for a little over five minutes to keep Gonzalez pinned and to get both his hands behind his back so they can handcuff him. One of the officers has his knee on the man's shoulder to hold him down. They then check for a pulse. When Gonzalez does not respond, they turn him over and begin chest compression's before paramedics arrive. Three investigations are underway into how the response led to Gonzalez's death, said Alameda city spokeswoman Sarah Henry. The probes are being carried out by the Alameda County Sheriff's Department, the Alameda County District Attorney's office, and an independent outside investigation, she said. (With inputs from agencies)

Family says California man died in ‘same manner’ as George Floyd

Lawyers for the family of a Black man killed by sheriff's deputies in North Carolina during an attempted arrest said on Tuesday that an independent autopsy showed he died from a 'kill shot' to his head as he tried to drive away.

Andrew&nbsp;Brown&nbsp;Jr., 42, was struck with multiple bullets in the arm before the fatal shot to his head, lawyers for the family told a news conference held to release the findings of an independent autopsy.

"It was a kill shot to the back of the head," said Ben Crump, one of the attorneys.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/black-man-fatally-shot-by-sheriffs-deputies-serving-search-warrant-in-north-carolina-379155">Black man fatally shot by sheriff's deputies serving search warrant in North Carolina</a>

In the latest police killing of an African American to draw scrutiny, the family accused the Pasquotank County police of an "execution," demanding that all body camera video be released.

The fatal shooting of&nbsp;Brown&nbsp;last Wednesday led to six straight nights of protests in Elizabeth City, a riverfront community near the Virginia border whose population of about 18,000 is half African American.

The FBI opened a federal civil rights investigation into&nbsp;Brown's death, while officials in Elizabeth City&nbsp;declared a state of emergency and ordered a curfew in anticipation of possible violent protests over the incident.

The family spoke to media Tuesday with several lawyers, including civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who has represented families in some of the most high-profile cases of police shootings.

On Monday, a 20-second clip of the incident from one officer's body camera was shown to&nbsp;Brown's immediate family.

"Yesterday I saw him executed," said his son Khalil Ferebee.

Police use of lethal force against Black Americans has become a national controversy, heightened by last week's murder conviction of a Minneapolis officer over the killing of George Floyd a year ago,&nbsp;an incident that triggered large protests.

The circumstances of&nbsp;Brown's death remain unclear.

The 42-year-old was shot as he tried to drive away from officers who sought to serve an arrest warrant over drug-dealing charges.

Seven county deputies involved in the operation were placed on leave after the incident.

Family attorney Chantel Cherry-Lassiter said Monday that the video showed&nbsp;Brown&nbsp;in his vehicle, which was blocked in a driveway by police.

"Andrew&nbsp;had his hands on his steering wheel. He was not reaching for anything. He wasn't touching anything," she said.

"They run up to his vehicle shooting... His car was riddled with bullets, shooting him when he was not threatening them in any form or fashion."

Pasquotank County Sheriff Tommy Wooten has called for the public release of the videos, which requires a legal order.&nbsp;But he warned that such footage can sometimes "only tell part of the story."

Body camera footage and phone videos have played a key role in fuelling anger over police conduct in the United States.

(With inputs from agencies)

Lawyers for the family of a Black man killed by sheriff's deputies in North Carolina during an attempted arrest said on Tuesday that an independent autopsy showed he died from a 'kill shot' to his head as he tried to drive away.

Lawyers for the family of a Black man killed by sheriff's deputies in North Carolina during an attempted arrest said on Tuesday that an independent autopsy showed he died from a 'kill shot' to his head as he tried to drive away. Andrew Brown Jr., 42, was struck with multiple bullets in the arm before the fatal shot to his head, lawyers for the family told a news conference held to release the findings of an independent autopsy. "It was a kill shot to the back of the head," said Ben Crump, one of the attorneys. Also read| Black man fatally shot by sheriff's deputies serving search warrant in North Carolina In the latest police killing of an African American to draw scrutiny, the family accused the Pasquotank County police of an "execution," demanding that all body camera video be released. The fatal shooting of Brown last Wednesday led to six straight nights of protests in Elizabeth City, a riverfront community near the Virginia border whose population of about 18,000 is half African American. The FBI opened a federal civil rights investigation into Brown's death, while officials in Elizabeth City declared a state of emergency and ordered a curfew in anticipation of possible violent protests over the incident. The family spoke to media Tuesday with several lawyers, including civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who has represented families in some of the most high-profile cases of police shootings. On Monday, a 20-second clip of the incident from one officer's body camera was shown to Brown's immediate family. "Yesterday I saw him executed," said his son Khalil Ferebee. Police use of lethal force against Black Americans has become a national controversy, heightened by last week's murder conviction of a Minneapolis officer over the killing of George Floyd a year ago, an incident that triggered large protests. The circumstances of Brown's death remain unclear. The 42-year-old was shot as he tried to drive away from officers who sought to serve an arrest warrant over drug-dealing charges. Seven county deputies involved in the operation were placed on leave after the incident. Family attorney Chantel Cherry-Lassiter said Monday that the video showed Brown in his vehicle, which was blocked in a driveway by police. "Andrew had his hands on his steering wheel. He was not reaching for anything. He wasn't touching anything," she said. "They run up to his vehicle shooting... His car was riddled with bullets, shooting him when he was not threatening them in any form or fashion." Pasquotank County Sheriff Tommy Wooten has called for the public release of the videos, which requires a legal order. But he warned that such footage can sometimes "only tell part of the story." Body camera footage and phone videos have played a key role in fuelling anger over police conduct in the United States. (With inputs from agencies)

Lawyers say African American Andrew Brown Jr was hit with 'kill shot' to head

george-floyd

George Floyd, News on George Floyd, stories on George Floyd, articles on George Floyd, George Floyd stories at Wion, George Floyd news, George Floyd latest news

george floyd