Charges against the three other police officers who surrounded George Floyd, while Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck and killed him, have officially been announced. While this is a small step in the right direction, we are still awaiting charges for the police officers involving in shooting and that killing Breonna Taylor while she slept in her home. Let alone, making changes to the policies in general, the policies which allow for systemic racism to persist.
Nonetheless, Minnesota Attorney Keith Ellison announced the upgraded charges against Derek Chauvin during a press conference today, upping his charge from third degree murder to second degree murder.
As well, he revealed that arrest warrants have been issued for Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J.A.Kueng. Chauvin remains in police custody. Finally, Ellison announced that they've filed a complaint "that charges police officer Kueng, Lane and Thao with aiding and abetting murder int he 2nd degree, a felony offense."
Gov. Tim Walz issued a statement following the announcement of these charges, calling it a "meaningful step toward justice for George Floyd."
He continued, " But we must also recognize that the anguish driving protests around the world is about more than one tragic incident. George Floyd's death is the symptom of a disease. We will not wake up one day and have the disease of systemic racism cured for us. This is on each of us to solve together, and we have hard work ahead. We owe that much to George Floyd, and we owe that much to each other."
Check out a clip from the news conference below, where Ellison announces the charges.
