Attorney General Keith Ellison Condemns GOP Gesture
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 strong criticism from the state's attorney general, Keith Ellison, who led the prosecution in the case.
Ellison, a Democrat, described the gesture at the state Republicans’ annual convention in Duluth on Saturday as
“an act of profound cruelty”to Floyd’s family and
“disrespectful”to Minnesota’s law enforcement officers.
“This decision dishonors the memory of George Floyd and wounds his loved ones all over again,”Ellison stated.
Referencing the timing of the act, which occurred nearly six years after Floyd’s death, Ellison added:
“To honor the 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.
To honor a man who disgraced his oath to uphold the law and his badge is disturbing. And to honor a man who damaged the reputation of the brave men and women who protect our communities night and day is disrespectful.”
Details of the Moment of Silence and Chauvin’s Conviction
According to local station KARE 11, the Minnesota Republican Party approved a delegate’s request on the second morning of its two-day convention to recognize Derek Chauvin. Attendees observed approximately 10 seconds of silence before official business commenced.
Chauvin was sentenced in 2021 to 22.5 years in prison for the second-degree murder of George Floyd, which occurred in Minneapolis on 25 May 2020. In 2022, he received a concurrent sentence for violating Floyd’s civil rights during the encounter in which Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes.
Chauvin’s appeals have been repeatedly rejected, including by the US Supreme Court in 2023. In August 2024, he was transferred to a low-security facility in Texas after surviving a stabbing incident in an Arizona prison nine months prior.
Impact of Floyd’s Death and Political Reactions
The killing of George Floyd, a Black man, by Chauvin, who is white, ignited violent protests in Minneapolis and fueled a broader movement against police brutality and racial injustice, epitomized by Black Lives Matter.
Recently, Chauvin has become a figure embraced by some right-wing political groups and conservative commentators, such as Ben Shapiro, who has claimed Floyd died from a pre-existing medical condition rather than suffocation. There have been calls for former President Donald Trump to pardon Chauvin, including from Elon Musk, a prominent Trump ally. Analysts note that a pardon would not secure Chauvin’s release but might result in his transfer to a state prison.
Ellison’s Statement on Justice and Apology
Ellison acknowledged Floyd’s family and the legal process in his statement, emphasizing that Chauvin’s legal options have been exhausted. He noted the Supreme Court’s refusal to overturn the conviction and the repeated denials of new trials by state courts.
“George Floyd’s children lost their father. His siblings lost their brother. His community lost a neighbor and friend. That loss is permanent and irreparable. The jury heard all the evidence. The appeals courts reviewed every claim. Justice was rendered according to our system of law.
As the lead prosecutor whose team presented this case to a jury of 12 Minnesotans and then prevailed at every step of the appeals process, I am deeply troubled by what [the moment of silence] says about the state of our politics. I apologize to the Floyd family and to all the dedicated officers who do their jobs honorably every day.”
The Minnesota Republican Party did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Political Responses to the Moment of Silence
Democratic state lawmaker Jamie Long, a former majority leader of the Minnesota legislature, condemned the gesture on social media platform X on Sunday, calling it
“disgusting.”
He criticized the Republicans for opening their convention with a moment of silence for Chauvin rather than for victims of gun violence or soldiers killed overseas, stating:
“To a literal convicted murderer. Disgusting.”
