Kanye West, George Floyd.Photo: Gotham/GC Images
In 2021, former Minneapolis Police OfficerDerek Chauvin, who pinned his knee to Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes while Floyd yelled, “I can’t breathe,” wasconvicted of murder.At his trial, numerous experts testified that even though he had fentanyl in his system, Floyd’s death was a homicide.
“The judge took the gavel in his hands and slammed it on the table, and his death was ruled as murder — which we all know it was,” LaTonya Floyd says.
LaTonya Floyd, at right, with sister Zsa Zsa Floyd at their brother George’s funeral June 9, 2020.DAVID J. PHILLIP/POOL/AFP via Getty
“We have been through a lot. We have suffered a whole lot, and we are still suffering,” she says. “The marches and the fights for justice are never gonna stop. For us to hear someone of color say something like that, it’s a really painful place.”
For more on this story, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.
“There’s certainly potential for a lawsuit,” Merritt says. “I think the injury is real.”
Merritt tweeted: “Claiming Floyd died from fentanyl not the brutality established criminally and civily undermies & diminishes the Floyd family’s fight.”
RELATED VIDEO: Derek Chauvin Sentenced to 22.5 Years in Prison for Murder of George Floyd
On Monday, Parler, the far-right social media site, announced West was acquiring the company.
Merritt says he hopes West will make things right with the Floyd family.
“These families wake up every day feeling the sting and the loss of their loved ones, and they continue to fight,” Merritt says. “They built their lives now around fighting to reform our legal systems, reform police use of force, to bring accountability. And to have someone who in the past has been seen as an ally, now repeatedly and consistently undermine their efforts and diminish the legacy of their loved ones, it’s bad behavior. It’s disappointing, for the families. It’s very frustrating. And I will do what I can to help them get some peace.”
To help combat systemic racism, consider learning from or donating to these organizations:
source: people.com
