Derek Chauvin Trial: Stars Urge Fans To Remember It’s About His Character – Hollywood Life

Ava DuVernay, Chelsea Handler & More Urge: ‘Remember Derek Chauvin’s On Trial, Not George Floyd’

As the second day of Derek Chauvin's murder trial continues, stars like Ava DuVernay are reminding their fans not to refer to it as the 'George Floyd trial.'

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March 30, 2021 4:38PM EDT
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A person walks past a graffito showing late George Floyd, in Berlin, Germany, 30 May 2020. A bystander's video posted online on 25 May, appeared to show George Floyd, 46, pleading with arresting officers that he couldn't breathe as an officer knelt on his neck in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The unarmed black man later died in police custody. A series of demonstrations throughout the German capital, calling for ending of the social and economical restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The events are organised by groups of various motives, right wing activists, conspiracy theory believers and more, several counter demonstrations by left leaning organisations were also taking place. Anti-restrictions protests and counter demos in Berlin, Germany - 30 May 2020
Mayor Bill de Blasio, third from left, participates in painting Black Lives Matter on Fifth Avenue in front of Trump Tower, in New York. The mayor's wife, Chirlane McCray, is fourth from left and Rev. Al Sharpton is second from left Racial Injustice , New York, United States - 09 Jul 2020
People pose with a new Black Lives Matter mural outside of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in New York. Black Lives Matter mural, New York, USA - 09 Jul 2020
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After George Floyd‘s name continues to trend on Twitter, stars like Ava DuVernay are pleading with their fans to remember that he’s not the one on trial — his alleged killer, Derek Chauvin, is. Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, is on trial at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis, Minnesota after being charged with second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the May 25, 2020 death of Floyd, an unarmed Black man.

Chauvin faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted. “If you believe in a power greater than you, please hold the family of Mr. George Floyd in prayer through the trial of his murderer, Police Officer Derek Chauvin. The family will hear character assassination and details of their loved one’s murder. Horrific. Hold them in light,” Ava tweeted on March 29, the first day of Chauvin’s trial.

Floyd’s death gained national attention after video footage of his arrest showed Chauvin kneeling on his neck for more than eight minutes as he pleaded, “please, please, I can’t breathe.” Several other officers stood by as it happened. Floyd died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. His death sparked months of demonstrations across the nation as activists demanded justice for Floyd and other Black individuals who died at the hands of police, like Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery.

 

Chelsea Handler tweeted on Day 2 of Chauvin’s trial, “So pathetic that there is a trial to prove that Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd when there is video of him doing so.” CNN analyst and The View co-host Ana Navarro corrected herself after tweeting about the “George Floyd trial.” She told her Twitter followers, “A correction and reminder to myself and others: #GeorgeFloyd is NOT on trial. When referring to this trial, we should call it the #ChauvinTrial. George Floyd is dead. Chauvin killed him. Derek Chauvin is the one on trial, for kneeling on his neck and murdering George Floyd.”

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