The Minnesota Republican Party reportedly held a moment of silence for convicted murderer Derek Chauvin at its endorsement convention on Saturday, just days after the sixth anniversary of George Floyd's death. The decision, which opened the proceedings with a 10-second pause, was branded 'disgusting' by state Representative Jamie Long, a Democrat, who posted his condemnation on social media.
Details of the Incident
According to the Minnesota Reformer and state lawmakers, the moment of silence for Chauvin occurred at the party's convention. Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, was convicted of murdering George Floyd in 2021 and is serving concurrent sentences of 21 years federally and 22.5 years at the state level. Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, died after Chauvin knelt on his neck for over nine minutes during an arrest in 2020, sparking nationwide protests and a reckoning on racial injustice in policing.
Political Reactions
Representative Jamie Long expressed his outrage on X, stating, 'The MN GOP opened their convention with a moment of silence for Derek Chauvin. Not for those we lost to gun violence. Not for soldiers killed overseas. To a literal convicted murderer. Disgusting.' Minnesota Reformer reporter Max Nesterak also commented, highlighting the contrast between the GOP's tribute and Democrats' focus on safety issues like confiscating glow sticks due to epilepsy risks. The Independent has sought comment from the Minnesota GOP.
Broader Context
The moment of silence underscores the persistent divide between the parties on racial justice and policing. On the sixth anniversary of Floyd's death, his uncle Selwyn Jones told Fox 9 that 'not enough change' has occurred, but urged continued unity. Floyd's aunt Angela Harrelson stated that true progress will be when 'we don't have to say the words Black Lives Matter.' Meanwhile, Chauvin remains in prison, having pursued multiple appeals. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his case in November 2023, and he now seeks to overturn his federal conviction, arguing ineffective counsel and requesting examination of tissue samples from Floyd's autopsy.
