March 8, 2021: The trial against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin begins with an estimated three weeks of jury selection and is being livestreamed. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison charges Chauvin with second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
Feb. 3, 2021: Judge Peter Cahill announces that the trial will commence in-person with specific COVID-19 precautions.
Nov. 4, 2020: Judge Cahill allows audio and video coverage of the trial after an ongoing battle by a local media coalition. Chauvin’s motion for a venue change for the trial is denied. In his ruling, Cahill said, “Because of that pervasive media coverage, a change of venue is unlikely to cure the taint of potentially prejudicial pretrial publicity.”
Oct. 9, 2020: After the former officer is freed on bail, protesters push bail bond reform outside Government Plaza.
Oct. 7, 2020: Chauvin posts bond, amounting to $1 million, and is released from prison.
June 7, 2020: Nine Minneapolis City Council members pledge to defund the Minneapolis Police Department. Months later, little traction is made to defund the department — however, attrition plagues MPD, and about 200 officers have quit or taken extended medical leave since the death of Floyd, according to the Star Tribune.
June 3, 2020: The three other officers — Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao — are charged with aiding and abetting in the interaction that led to Floyd’s death. Chauvin’s charge is upgraded to second-degree murder, Vox reports.
June 1, 2020: Two autopsies rule Floyd’s death a homicide.
May 30, 2020: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey calls violent attacks and destruction on Minneapolis “domestic terrorism.”
May 29, 2020: Chauvin is arrested in connection with Floyd’s death and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Trump threatens to deploy the army on protesters and calls them “thugs” on Twitter, Politico reports.
May 28, 2020: Gov. Tim Walz mobilizes the National Guard in Minneapolis after violence arises. More than 7,000 guard members were eventually pressed into duty, Minnesota Public Radio reported.
The Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct building, where Chauvin was stationed, was eventually burned down. The Star Tribune compiled a timeline of events leading up to the fall of the building.
May 27, 2020: Protests across the nation begin to arise in response to Floyd’s death.
The Target near the Third Precinct building is looted, and numerous other businesses and buildings are subject to property damage, looting and fires started by the unrest, Bring Me the News reports.
May 26, 2020: Minneapolis residents began to protest the death of Floyd and demand the prosecution and firing of Chauvin and the four other police officers, as well as taking a stand against the MPD, claiming longstanding police brutality by the department.
May 25, 2020: George Floyd dies after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneels on his neck outside of a convenience store in South Minneapolis. Floyd is accused of using counterfeit currency. A video of the struggle between Floyd and Chauvin is posted on Facebook. The video depicts Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck while he is detained for nearly nine minutes.
