Ben Crump, Al Sharpton arrive at Hennepin County Courthouse

Civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Rev. Al Sharpton arrived at the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis on March 29, 2021. Their arrival marked the beginning of opening statements in the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was charged in the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020. The courthouse was heavily fortified with law enforcement and National Guard personnel due to widespread protests and civil unrest that followed Floyd's death.