Justice Department Designates George Floyd Case 'Top Priority'

George Floyd’s death sparked massive protests and riots in Minneapolis, with the “trauma” being spread further through looting, robbing, torching buildings, and even murders. Police Chief Medaria Arradondo said he is committed to restoring peace and security in the community, just hours after an announcement by the Department of Justice about making Floyd’s case a top priority. 

Minneapolis Burns, Floyd Case Top Priority 

The Justice Department said that the investigation into Floyd’s death is now “top priority,” also promising a “robust” probe by the FBI. 46-year-old George Floyd was pronounced dead Monday night after being pinned to the ground and choked by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, and colleagues Thomas Lane, Tou Thao, and J. Alexander Kueng, who were all fired from the force Tuesday. 

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey demanded that Chauvin be arrested on Wednesday, calling for Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman to “act on the evidence before him,” and charge the former officer. 

“Why is the man who killed George Floyd not in jail? If you had done it, or I had done it, we would be behind bars right now,” Frey said during a news conference. 

Floyd’s death was the trigger for Minneapolis to go haywire – the city on Thursday still saw burning fires and smoke in the air, with the damages not only being material, with a man found dead on a sidewalk from a gunshot wound. 

Please, Minneapolis, we cannot let tragedy beget more tragedy.

The area along Lake has become unsafe. We are asking for your help in keeping the peace tonight. https://t.co/kRZuWGJY29

— Mayor Jacob Frey (@MayorFrey) May 28, 2020

Mayor Frey and City Council VP Andrea Jenkins, as well as Police Chief Arradondo, have been calling for people to stop the violence and riots, saying that despite recognizing and acknowledging people’s anger, all it’s doing is “harming the very communities that you say you are standing up for.”