George Floyd Trial Countdown at 38th and Chicago, Minneapolis

George Floyd Square in Minneapolis, is shown 21 days before the start of the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged in Floyd's death. The intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue became a focal point for protests and activism following Floyd's murder in May 2020. The area has been transformed into a memorial and a space for community gathering, marked by tributes and art. On May 25, 2020, Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin murdered 46-year-old George Floyd during an arrest outside Cup Foods at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in south Minneapolis. Video recorded by bystanders showed Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes while Floyd repeatedly said he could not breathe. Three other Minneapolis police officers - J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao — were also present during the arrest and later faced criminal charges for their roles in Floyd’s death. Floyd’s murder sparked protests and civil unrest across Minneapolis and around the world, leading to widespread demonstrations against police violence, major policy debates on policing, and the conviction of Chauvin on murder and manslaughter charges in 2021.