Arabic version: وجه الجمهوريون في مينيسوتا ردود فعل سلبية بسبب لحظة صمت لشوفين
The Minnesota Republican party’s decision to hold a moment of silence for Derek Chauvin, the former police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, has sparked significant backlash. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who was the lead prosecutor in Floyd’s case, condemned the gesture as an “act of profound cruelty” to Floyd’s family and disrespectful to law enforcement personnel in the state. According to The Guardian, Ellison expressed his outrage in a statement following the moment of silence, which took place at the state Republicans’ annual convention in Duluth.
Ellison emphasized that honoring Chauvin, particularly on the anniversary of Floyd’s murder, was deeply disturbing. He stated, “To honor a man convicted of murdering George Floyd – days after the very anniversary of that terrible day – is an act of profound cruelty to the Floyd family and to every Minnesotan who believes in accountability under law.” The moment of silence reportedly lasted about ten seconds and was initiated by a delegate’s request during the convention.
Chauvin was sentenced to a total of 43 years in prison for his actions, which included kneeling on Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes during the fatal encounter on May 25, 2020. The event sparked widespread protests and a national reckoning on police brutality and racial injustice. Recently, Chauvin has drawn attention from right-wing political figures who have attempted to shift the narrative surrounding his actions.
Ellison acknowledged the permanent loss experienced by Floyd’s family and reiterated that justice had been served through the legal process. He stated, “George Floyd’s children lost their father… The jury heard all the evidence. The appeals courts reviewed every claim. Justice was rendered according to our system of law.”
In response to the moment of silence, Democratic state lawmaker Jamie Long called the act “disgusting,” criticizing the Republican party for choosing to honor a convicted murderer rather than those lost to violence or service. The Minnesota Republican party has yet to comment on the backlash following the convention.
