Five years after Floyd's death: memories and protests in Minneapolis

Five years after Floyd's death: memories and protests in Minneapolis

On May 25, 2025, people in the USA and the fifth anniversary of George Floyd's violent death worldwide. Floyd, who died in a police operation in Minneapolis, complained several times that he could no longer get air before he finally died. His death led to a global wave of protests by the "Black Lives Matter" movement, which became demands for justice and against racism. On this day, protests were planned in several US cities, including Chicago and Dallas, but larger demonstrations were not expected. Kleine Zeitung reports that several politicians from the US Democrats also remembered Floyd's death.

In Minneapolis, numerous people visited the intersection where Floyd's death was recorded. There they lay down flowers and soft toys, and the place is decorated with protest art, including a mural with the message "You changed the world, George,". This message is in a sharp contrast to the political views of the former President Donald Trump, whose tenders require a pardon of the convicted police officer Derek Chauvin, who was convicted for 22 years and six months in prison. Floyd's death has sharpened the awareness of racism in the USA, but reports ZDF that has lost movement and that activism no longer gets the same medial attention.

memory and setbacks

Jeanelle Austin, who grew up near Floyd's death, continues to actively campaign for the memory of him by collecting protest posters and organizing exhibitions. The report on Floyd's death and the subsequent protests not only beat waves in the USA, but also in many other countries where similar movements have arisen. Statistics such as those of the "Mapping Police Violence" project show that at least 1,396 people were killed by the police in 2024, with black people being disproportionately affected. According to RND, black Americans have almost three times as risk of dying from police force as white.

A poll of the PEW Research Center also shows that 54% of the Americans see no progress in combating racism since Floyd's death. Historians like Donald Nieman emphasize the need for equality and inclusion programs, even if there are many setbacks. A draft law on the police reform, which was named after George Floyd, failed in the congress and illustrates the challenges with which supporters are confronted by reforms. At the local level, "Black Lives Matter" remains a decentralized network of local groups that continue to strive to strengthen the voice of the discriminated African American population.

social challenges and inequalities

The social and economic challenges for the African American community remain serious. Despite the grown attention to racism and police violence, many African Americans are still disadvantaged in various areas. This includes, among other things, greater unemployment and a lower access to homemade homes. Statistics show that unemployment among African Americans has risen to almost 17 percent during the Corona crisis, while 70 percent of the white US citizens live in their own home, but only 41 percent of black US citizens. These inequalities are deeply rooted and have historical reasons that go back to the time of slavery and racial segregation.

On the fifth anniversary of George Floyd's death, it should be noted that despite the increased consciousness for racism and inequality, many topics still need to be tackled.