Six years after George Floyd's death, his family says the fight for racial justice remains unfinished as Minneapolis marks the May 25, 2020 anniversary. Floyd's uncle recalled not recognizing his nephew when he first saw the widely shared footage; his aunt urged that George Floyd Square remain a place for reflection rather than commercialization. Derek Chauvin, serving a combined 22.5-year sentence, has filed a new petition seeking post-conviction relief. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner ruled Floyd’s death a homicide caused by law enforcement restraint and neck compression.
Six Years After George Floyd’s Death, Family Says ‘Not Enough Has Changed’ — Calls For Continued Action
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Six years after George Floyd’s killing reshaped the national conversation about policing and racial justice, his family says the fight for change remains unfinished. As Minneapolis prepared to mark the May 25, 2020 anniversary, relatives reflected on grief, public memory, and the work they believe still needs to be done.
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Family Reflections
In an interview with Fox 9 ahead of the observance, Floyd’s uncle, Selwyn Jones, described the first time he saw the now-widely shared footage of George Floyd pinned to the ground by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Jones said he initially did not recognize the man on the screen as his nephew.
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“I was sitting in front of a television watching this, this Black man getting assaulted by the police. And me not knowing who it was,” Jones said. Moments later he recalled receiving a call from his sister: “Did you see what they did to Perry?”
Legal Status
Derek Chauvin is serving a combined state and federal sentence totaling 22.5 years in prison. He has recently filed a new petition in Hennepin County District Court seeking post-conviction relief. In that filing, Chauvin challenges expert testimony from his trial, alleges misrepresentation of department training policies, and accuses prosecutors of misconduct and improper jury instructions. Previous appeals at both the state and federal levels have been rejected.
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What Happened
Floyd died after Chauvin knelt on his neck and back for 9 minutes and 29 seconds while Floyd was handcuffed and face-down outside a Minneapolis convenience store. Bystander video shows Floyd repeatedly saying he could not breathe before becoming unresponsive. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide caused by law enforcement restraint and neck compression.
Memory, Space, And The Movement
For Floyd’s family, the anniversary is both a time of remembrance and a reminder that the movement his death intensified is ongoing. “Not enough change,” Jones said when reflecting on the years since his nephew’s death. “But as long as we keep fighting, as long as this event keeps happening, yes, and showing unity.”
Floyd’s aunt, Angela Harrelson, spoke about the emotional weight of the date and the future of George Floyd Square. Minneapolis plans to begin construction next month on a redesigned public space there; Harrelson said she hopes the site remains focused on reflection rather than commercialization. “When we get to the point where we don’t have to say the words Black Lives Matter,” she said, “then that’s when we know we have arrived.”
Why This Matters
The anniversary continues to spotlight debates over police accountability, public memory, and how communities commemorate victims of racialized violence. For Floyd’s relatives and many activists, the date is both a solemn remembrance and a call to sustain pressure for systemic reforms.
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