Ben Crump, lawyer for George Floyd’s family, has asked for the UN to intervene in the family’s case. On Memorial Day, a police officer named Derek Chauvin put his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes. During that time, Floyd begged for air and eventually became unresponsive. Chauvin has since been arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
Floyd’s death catalyzed a widespread “Black Lives Matter” protest movement. In the aftermath of huge waves of layoffs due to COVID-19, the protests have had huge turnout. People unable to make ends meet and frustrated with America’s institutions have taken to the streets in massive numbers. Crump, meanwhile, has implored the United Nations to look into Floyd’s death.
Crump, who is representing the Floyd family, sent a letter to the UN on June 3. In an official statement he said, “Among the reforms requested were deescalating techniques, independent prosecutions and autopsies for every extrajudicial police killing in an effort to stop further human rights abuses including torture and extrajudicial killings of African Americans to protect their inherent and fundamental human right to life.”
Crump went on in the statement, explaining why he reached out to the UN. “The United States of America has a long pattern and practice of depriving Black citizens of the fundamental human right to life.”
Crump went on to state that the US government is not known for holding police accountable. Police are often able to elude justice, he continues, even in cases with video evidence. As such, he beseeches the UN to review the case as a neutral third party.
Floyd was arrested on Memorial Day under the suspicion that he tried to use a counterfeit $20 bill. However, it is unclear if that’s true. During the course of his arrest, for some reason, then-officer Chauvin pushed him to the ground and knelt on his neck.
The three other officers at the scene kept bystanders away from Chauvin and Floyd. Several called for Chauvin to get off the unarmed man, as he was clearly unable to breathe. The three accompanying officers waved them back.
Those three officers have also been charged, though they are facing charges of aiding and abetting murder. The immediate aftermath of Floyd’s death saw protesters taking to the streets to decry police brutality. Protesters are calling on cities to try to lose weight off police department budgets. According to the protestors, cities should be investing, instead, in community programs.
