The brutal murder of 46-year-old George Floyd, an African-American man, was captured on camera in the full light of day, while the onlookers asked former Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, to step away from his neck as he had pinned Floyd to the pavement under his knee for over 9 minutes. "I can't breathe" were Floyd's last words.
The video of the horrific murder was widely shared on social media. George Floyd's murder sparked a nationwide violent protest on systemic racism and police brutality.
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Following one-year anniversary of George Floyd's murder, NBA stars continue their protest against systematic racism and bias in the US criminal justice system.
On Monday, NBA social justice coalition issued a statement, urging for the United States Senate to pass the 'George Floyd Justice in Policing Act', to honour the memory of George Floyd and “others who have been victims of police brutality.”
The police reform bill, which aims to increase accountability for law enforcement misconduct, was approved back in March by the Democrat-controlled House for a second time, but the legislation has been stalled in the Senate.
Members of the coalition include Houston Rockets guards Sterling Brown and Avery Bradley, Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, Portland Trail Blazers forward Carmelo Anthony and Minnesota Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns.
WNBPA said in a statement that it remains "hopeful that the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is the important first step for comprehensive policing reform at the federal level."
In a rare gesture, dozens of people kneeled at the site of the intersection where Floyd died where a steel fist sculpture has come up— symbolizing the 9 minutes, 29 seconds during which Floyd was pinned down.
Last month, the fedral grand jury found Derek Chauvin guilty on all three counts of murder of George Floyd. The sentencing will be done in about 2 months.