Mayor Jacob Frey faces backlash for George Floyd post on Memorial Day
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Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey received pushback Monday over a social media post recalling George Floyd, whose death on Memorial Day six years ago triggered protests and riots across the country, as well as calls to defund law enforcement.
“Today we remember George Floyd, who was killed by a former Minneapolis police officer six years ago,” Frey wrote on X. “That moment changed our city forever.”
In subsequent posts, Frey wrote that Floyd’s death forced the city to “confront hard truths about race, policing, inequality, and trust, requiring tough conversations and accountability.” “Since Floyd’s murder, our city has had a hard time not only saying we’ve changed, but proving it.”
“We are committed to honoring this place both as a monument of global significance and as a neighborhood where people live, work, gather and heal,” Frey added.
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Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey drew criticism after honoring George Floyd in a social media post on Memorial Day. (AP Images; Getty Images)
Floyd died of cardiopulmonary arrest, which complicates law enforcement subdual, detection and neck compression, after he was pinned to the ground by officers outside a convenience store for allegedly trying to pass a counterfeit $20 bill.
Four police officers, including Derek Chauvin, were sentenced to prison for Floyd’s death. Chauvin pinned Floyd to the ground with his knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
Frey’s post drew immediate criticism due to Monday also being Memorial Day.
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“Breaking news: Today is Memorial Day, not George Floyd Day. Show some respect for our fallen heroes and their families,” wrote State Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla. “You are an absolute disgrace to America @MayorFrey.”
Others noted that Floyd’s death triggered devastating riots across the country in which stores and buildings were looted and burned.
“This has changed your city, your state, and my country for the worse. Rioters on your side have killed people and caused billions of dollars in economic damage. So for what? To defeat police policies that lead to more people being killed,” reporter Andy Ngo responded to Frey.
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George Floyd died on May 25, 2020, after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for 9 1/2 minutes outside a convenience store, where Floyd tried to pass a counterfeit $20 bill. (Christopher Harris/AP)
Although the official autopsy ruled the death a homicide resulting from police restraint, the medical examiner’s report also noted that the amount of fentanyl in Floyd’s system and his recent use of methamphetamine were contributing factors.
“At first I thought this was supposed to be a parody,” Tomi Lahren wrote on X. “I didn’t think this fruity mayor would honor George Floyd on Memorial Day… But here he is.”
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Townhall.com columnist Dustin Grage wrote, “Today we remember the veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedoms. Not the drug addicts who overdosed.” he wrote.
In a separate post, Frey honored veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice, saying: “We owe our deepest gratitude to them and to the families who carry their memories into the future.”
