Say their names.
Darnella Frazier.
Donald Williams.
Genevieve Hansen.
Charles McMillan.
These and several others shine as true heroes in the tragic story of George Floyd.
If you followed the recent trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, you will recognize the names.
If not, let me tell you who they are.
To back up a bit, this was what the Minneapolis Police Force released to the public right after the death of George Floyd after being called to a store on a report of a counterfeit $20 bill.
The news release was entitled: “Man Dies After Medical Incident During Police Interaction.”
It goes on to say: “Two officers arrived and located the suspect, a male believed to be in his 40s, in his car. Officers were able to get the suspect into handcuffs and noted he appeared to be in medical distress. Officers called for an ambulance. He was transported to hospital by ambulance where he died a short time later.”
Wow! Does this bare much similarity to what we now have all seen with our own eyes?
Enter 17-year-old Darnella Frazier who had taken her nine-year-old cousin to the variety store for some snacks.
She saw what she viewed as “something wrong” when she viewed Mr. Floyd, face down on the pavement, surrounded by three police officers.
She took out her phone and started filming and never stopped. She didn’t stop for over 10 minutes and caught everything.
It was her video, which she posted on Facebook, that sparked global outrage to what most people saw as excessive use of force by police.
It was her video that showed just how ugly the whole incident truly was.
It was her video, in all of its grotesqueness, which led to three guilty verdicts against former officer Chauvin for murder last week.
It was her video that I can’t completely unsee, but that I also don’t want to ever forget.
If she had paused in the filming or stopped before the whole event ended would we have ever truly known what happened May 25, 2020 on that street corner?
Darnella Frazier. Say her name.
Donald Williams. Say his name.
He was the young martial arts expert who just happened to come upon the scene that day.
He knew all about choke holds and using body weight as a weapon. He called out advice and suggestions to the cops, which escalated to a few choice words when he was ignored.
It was Donald Williams who called 911 saying: “I called the police on the police.”
Donald Williams. Say his name.
Genevieve Hansen. Say her name.
She was the off-duty Minneapolis firefighter who just came upon the scene and thought maybe she could help.
She remained on scene offering her own services to check for a pulse or do CPR, only to be rebuffed. She stayed there, also filming, and yelling out for the officers to offer some medical attention to the victim.
Genevieve Hansen. Say her name.
Charles McMillan, the 61-year-old man who was like an unofficial neighbourhood watch in the area. He wanted to know what was going on in his community.
He didn’t know George Floyd, but when he saw him struggling with police at the cruiser he called out: “Just get in the car, man, you can’t win.”
It was who later talked to Chauvin trying to figure out why he had to put a knee to his neck for so long.
Charles McMillan. Say his name.
During the trial, the prosecution referred to the bystanders as a “bouquet of humanity” — just regular people who were brought together by fate in that place at that time to witness that moment.
I kept thinking despite the fact George Floyd died in such an undignified way — those people certainly showed him respect.
He may not have known any of them, but they truly tried to save him.
In the end, they got him justice because they didn’t look away. They didn’t keep walking. They got involved. They made a difference. They made history.
They showed humanity at its best.
I call them heroes.
I will continue to say their names in my prayers.
