George Floyd’s murder launched the word into a state of outrage. The video showing Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck and eventually killing him sparked the international explosion of large-scale protests, activism, and media coverage. Chauvin has finally been sentenced with second degree murder and could receive up to 40 years. Although he will be in jail for a while, Minnesota is not among the states that have laws in place preventing employees convicted of work-related felony crimes from receiving pensions, so he may have a considerably large pension to look forward to in a few years.

Chauvin, 44, will be eligible to file for pension when he turns 50. A CNN analysis based on his tenure, contract details, 2019 payroll data, Minneapolis Police Department salary schedules and pension plan guidance suggests that he would receive payments of approximately $50,000 a year or more if he decided to wait till age 55 to file.

Over a period of 30 years, Chauvin’s benefits could increase to $1.5 million or more, and likely even more than that once any increases in cost of living are factored in. If he received significant amounts of overtime in the past, he stands to gain even higher payments.

Public pensions, which are funded through taxpayers as well as workers and investment returns, are almost impossible to rescind from workers.“Neither our Board nor our staff have the discretion to increase, decrease, deny or revoke benefits. Any changes to current law would need to be done through the legislative process,” stated a spokeswoman.

The possibility of Chauvin receiving such a large benefit will likely serve as a call to action for system reform as people will continue to demand the defunding of police departments and improved money distribution to social services including youth, special needs, and community development.

[]

According to some new sources, ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, charged with the second-degree murder of George Floyd, was in the process of negotiating a plea deal with federal and state prosecutors prior to his arrest.

Sources close to the situation say the deal was intended to be a “universal deal” that included state murder charges in addition to federal civil rights charges. Negotiations for the deal delayed a May 28th FBI press conference by two hours. During the delayed press conference, U.S. Attorney Erica MacDonald shared, “I thought we would have another development to talk to you about, but we don’t.” 

The deal, which ultimately fell through, likely would have required Chauvin to plead guilty.  

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office confirmed a deal with Chauvin in the works, but the negotiations ultimately failed. “There were early negotiations with the defendant (Derek Chauvin), between the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney,” said Hennepin County Attorney spokesperson Chuck Laszewski. Details as to why the deal fell through, the actual terms of the deal, and who walked away from it are all still unclear at this time.

The next day, Friday, May 29th, Chauvin was arrested and charged with third-degree murder by the Hennepin County Attorney. The charges have since been bumped to second-degree murder, and the three other officers involved are also facing charges. 

[]

A bloody pig head on a spike was found by Los Angeles Police officers outside of the department’s Rampart Station, a division notorious for its late-90s corruption and police brutality scandals. It is currently unclear who placed the head at the station or if it was intended as a threat. 

The Pig’s head discovery comes amidst large-scale global protests against police brutality and George Floyd’s death. While Derek Chauvin and the other Minneapolis officers involved have been fired and charged, protesters are demanding further reforms to law enforcement practices and the American criminal justice system, as Floyd’s family is seeing a surge of financial support and lawmakers are proposing new legislation aimed at eliminating police brutality. 

Given the high tensions surrounding recent protests and numerous documentedincidents of police violence, the LAPD is reportedly approaching the situation extra cautiously, currently reviewing surveillance footage in an attempt to identify the perpetrator. In the meantime, TMZ reports that LAPD officers, under the direction of Chief Michel Moore who recently blamed George Floyd’s death on looters leading to calls for his resignation, have now been advised to maintain a low profile while off duty, in order to avoid further confrontations with the public.

Drake has already issued his take on this interview between Thomas Lane's lawyer and CNN host Chris Cuomo, but there's quite a bit more to unpack from it.

Lane, one of the four police officers responsible for the death of George Floyd, had his lawyer, Earl Gray conduct an interview with Chris Cuomo where they discussed Lane's defense and the case. The interview resulted in a few incendiary remarks on Gray's side.

Gray attempted to flip things so that was it the public's fault that Floyd died, which Cuomo stopped immediately to counter. "If the public is there and they're so in an uproar about this, they didn't intercede either," Gray said, referring to those who witnessed and filmed the murder. 

"I understand that he has a senior officer telling him what to do, but he also has a duty to intervene," Cuomo said. "The idea that the civilians should have rushed in to a policing situation in the inner city of Minneapolis against four police officers that have weapons and are kneeling on the kneck of a man- don't you think that's asking too much of civilians and a little too little of your client?"

Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Getty Images & Ramsey County Sheriff's Office Getty Images 

Gray doesn't seem to have anything else to say in response to Cuomo's remarks but agree. "Absolutely," he said before stumbling over his words, "I just brought that up..." You can watch this particular clip in the tweet below.

Lane is among the four Minneapolis police officers who have been charged in the murder of George Floyd. Thomas Lane, Tou Thao, J.A. Kueng and Derek Chauvin were on the scene, and did nothing while Floyd pleaded in his last breathes, and told them: “I can’t breathe.”

Chauvin was arrested first, quickly after the video went viral. From there, as protests erupted (and continue in their second week) across the country, the three other officers were also handed down arrest warrants, and now remain locked up on $1 million bail, while Chauvin’s bail has been set at $1.25 million.

Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office Getty Images

Lane, alongside his two former colleagues Thao and Kueng, were charged with aiding and abetting in Floyd’s death. Lane and Kueng have both attempted to wash their hands of the charge, by casting blame solely on Chauvin.

Last night, Lane’s lawyer, Earl Gray, did an interview with CNN’s Chris Cuomo where he used a similar method of deflecting the blame from his client– by casting the blame on those civilians who witnessed the whole murder unfold. Yes, Gray actually said: “If the public is there and they’re so in an uproar about this, they didn’t intercede either.”

Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Getty Images

Now, TMZ has reported that Lane is actually asking for the public to help fund his defense. It seems unbelievable, but reportedly Lane and his family have set up a website, where they’re soliciting donations. The website attempts to make a case for Lane’s defense as well, bringing up several points that Gray also iterated in last night’s interview. Things like: Lane was the one who suggested they roll Floyd over on his side (but they didn’t), as well as the fact that Lane called the ambulance for Floyd, and attempted to perform CPR on him when the ambulance arrived.

Ultimately, Lane says that he did everything that the chain of command allowed him to do.

What do you think of this latest development? 

[]

We don’t expect Drake to be the most politically-minded or politically-outspoken artist, however, the Toronto-bred artist has been coming through with a few remarks and reactions to the death of George Floyd, and the social upheaval that has followed.

When we waited to find out if the other three officers, all of whom stood around Derek Chauvin as he kneeled on Floyd’s neck for over eight minutes, would be charged, Drake shared an image in his IG Story revealing he too was anxious for the outcome. Today, he’s done similarly, sharing his view of the T.V. as he watched an interview between Thomas Lane’s lawyer and Chris Cuomo on CNN. Lane is one of the three officers charged in aiding and abetting Derek Chauvin in the murder of Floyd.

Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Getty Images

Drake wrote in reaction to the interview: “Thomas Lane lawyer struggling through an ATTEMPT to justify this situation live on television…can’t even decide how to defend his client, this shit is foul to watch.”

And now, there’s a report circulating that Lane is actually seeking the public’s help to fund his defense in this whole situation. Lane appears to be saying he did everything that the chain of command would allow, in the situation. 

We’ll keep you posted.

San Antonio Spurs' Head Coach Gregg Popovich discussed his thoughts on police brutality and the death of George Floyd in a new video series for the team's social media titled "#SpursVoices." He says he is "embarrassed as a white person" to see how black citizens are being treated by police.

Hector Vivas / Getty Images

"In a strange, counterintuitive sort of way, the best teaching moment of this recent tragedy, I think, was the look on the officer's face," Popovich said in the powerful video."For white people to see how nonchalant, how casual, just how everyday-going-about-his job, so much so that he could just put his left hand in his pocket, wriggle his knee around a little bit to teach this person some sort of a lesson -- and that it was his right and his duty to do it, in his mind.

"I think I'm just embarrassed as a white person to know that that can happen. To actually watch a lynching. We've all seen books, and you look in the books and you see black people hanging off of trees. And you ... are amazed. But we just saw it again. I never thought I'd see that, with my own eyes, in real-time."

Floyd died, May 25, after police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for over 8 minutes.

Check out the full video of Popovich's thoughts below.

This afternoon, prosecutors announced that Derek Chauvin, the man directly responsible for the heinous act against George Floyd, will be charged with second-degree murder. Additionally, the three other officers at the scene also face charges. Here are some reactions to the news from some celebs who have been actively engaged in the dialogue. 

Ramsey County Sheriff's Office Getty Images & Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Getty Images

Ice-T

The rapper has long been vocal about systemic racism in the country, and he shared news of the upgraded charges to Twitter. 

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.

As we reported moments ago, Drake alongside the rest of the world has been patiently awaiting what charges will be brought down on the three other police officers who accompanied Derek Chauvin as he killed George Floyd. Chauvin was seen on camera, calm, cool and collected as he pressed his knee into Floyd's neck, while Floyd pleaded with him: "I can't breathe." A phrase that we've seen used tragically in the past involving cops killing innocent Black men.

Derek Chauvin, as the man who caused Floyd's death, was arrested and charged immediately-- a move that is among the fastest charges in history. At the time, he was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. Even though he was charged immediately, many weren't happy that it was just a third-degree murder charge given all the footage of the incident which screams otherwise. Thankfully, Chauvin's charge has been upgraded to a second degree murder charge, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years, as opposed to a third degree charge, for 25 years maximum.

Mario Tama/Getty Images

The news of Chauvin's upgraded charges comes alongside news of charges for the three accompanying officers-- their names are: Thomas Lane, J.A. Kueng and Tou Thao. Senator Amy Klobuchar shared this information in a tweet, writing: "Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is increasing charges against Derek Chauvin to 2nd degree in George Floyd’s murder and also charging other 3 officers. This is another important step for justice."

As far as the charges on Lane, Kueng and Thao, the Attorney General Keith Ellison is expected to announce these formally any minute now.

We'll keep you posted.