Michelle Gross speaks at press conference before Derek Chauvin Trial

Michelle Gross speaks at a press conference outside the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis on February 25, 2021. Activists gathered to announce a protest planned for that day, demanding justice and change in the wake of the Derek Chauvin trial. The signs held by attendees called for the conviction of Chauvin and justice for George Floyd. 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.