The death of George Floyd, 46, of St. Louis Park — who repeatedly told a Minneapolis police officer he couldn’t breathe as the officer knelt on his neck on May 25, 2020 — sparked protests that began peacefully but devolved in looting, fires and destruction in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
State and local leaders widely condemned the officer’s actions — and the city of Minneapolis fired four officers involved in the encounter — within a day of Floyd’s death, then turned to calling for peace. Full coverage.