Attorneys representing George Floyd's family are demanding a public apology from the Minnesota Republican Party after state delegates held a moment of silence for Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering Floyd in 2020. The tribute occurred at the state party's convention in Duluth on Sunday.
The legal team led by attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci issued a statement Tuesday condemning the act, calling it "disgusting" and demanding that GOP leaders issue an immediate retraction and apology to Floyd's family and the people of Minnesota.
What the Right Is Saying
State GOP officials have offered varying responses to the controversy. State Rep. Christopher Rocco, who proposed the tribute, defended the action by saying he believes Chauvin should be granted a retrial and a pardon. "I apologize because you've asked me not to do this," Rocco said before requesting the moment of reflection.
Convention chair Danny Nadeau initiated a voice vote on the proposal, which received loud ayes and quieter nays from delegates before he led them in a short moment of silence for Chauvin.
State GOP Chair Alex Plechash told WCCO radio Monday that the decision originated from the Republican "body," not party leadership. "There are a lot of people, I think, that believe that Derek Chauvin was improperly convicted and not treated well and those people wanted to have a moment of silence and recognition because they felt that way," Plechash said.
When pressed by reporters about whether he personally agreed with this sentiment, Plechash declined to comment. "The court system had its verdict, and I'm not going to challenge the court," he said.
What the Left Is Saying
Crump and Romanucci said in their statement that honoring Chauvin was particularly offensive given his conviction. "The audacity of the Minnesota Republican Party to honor an individual who has both been convicted by a jury of his peers for the murder of a fellow human being, while at the same time violated a professional oath to protect and serve his community, is disgusting," they wrote.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, whose office led the prosecution against Chauvin, called the moment "frankly shocking" in a statement posted on social media Monday. "Chauvin was convicted by a jury of his peers and was affirmed through every appeal," he said. "It shows cruelty to the Floyd family and disrespect to our courts and all Minnesotans. No one is above the law."
Civil rights advocates have echoed these concerns, arguing that the tribute undermines both the judicial process and the families of those affected by police violence. The moment of silence came nearly five years after Chauvin pressed his knee on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes, ignoring Floyd's repeated pleas that he could not breathe.
What the Numbers Show
Chauvin was convicted of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and manslaughter in April 2021 following a highly publicized trial that drew national attention. He received a 22-and-a-half-year prison sentence for the state conviction.
In December 2021, Chauvin also pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights violation, acknowledging that he willfully deprived Floyd of his constitutional rights. The U.S. Department of Justice noted at the time that this plea resolved all federal charges against him.
Floyd's death on May 25, 2020, sparked nationwide protests under the Black Lives Matter banner and prompted legislative discussions about police reform across multiple states and in Congress. Chauvin is currently serving his sentence at a Federal Correctional Institution in Arizona.
The Bottom Line
The controversy comes as Republicans nationally have sought to appeal to law enforcement groups amid broader debates over criminal justice policy. Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, the state's Democratic affiliate, quickly condemned the convention tribute.
Floyd's family attorneys said they are watching for a formal response from state Republican leaders and indicated they may pursue additional action if no apology is issued. The Minnesota GOP has not yet released a public statement addressing the specific demands from Crump and Romanucci.