Front Burner

George Floyd's murder, what's changed in five years?

After mass protests in 2020, has America abandoned all hope for racial justice and police accountability? We talk to the man who prosecuted George Floyd’s murderer.
A mural painted on a brick wall depicts a Black man's face and the words 'George Floyd.'
FILE PHOTO: A view of the George Floyd mural at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue a day before opening statements in the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin, who is facing murder charges in the death of George Floyd, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., March 28, 2021. (Octavio Jones/Reuters)

On May 25th 2020, Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, by kneeling on his neck for over nine minutes. The whole thing was caught on video and once it got out, it set America on fire. Protests spread across the country and then the world. Promises of sweeping changes to policing and greater commitment to racial justice and equity were made.

Fast forward to now, five years later, and the outlook is very different. There are more Americans killed at the hands of police, DEI initiatives have been rolled back and President Donald Trump is taking actions to give police more power.

We talk to Minnesota Attorney General, Keith Ellison, about calls to pardon Derek Chauvin, the current state of policing and racial justice and where America could be headed.

For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts

 Subscribe to Front Burner on your favourite podcast app.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

Listen on YouTube