Events mark anniversary of George Floyd's death
George Floyd died in front of a Minneapolis Cup Foods on May 25, 2020.
Activists are continuing their quest for police reform and social and racial justice on the one-year anniversary of George Floyd's death.
Floyd was killed on May 25, 2020, by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin after he was accused of using a counterfeit $20 bill at a Cup Foods.
His death sparked nationwide protests that persisted in major cities for much of the summer, despite a raging pandemic.
Floyd's family is set to meet with President Joe Biden Tuesday and other prominent lawmakers to push for the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which aims to address "a wide range of policies and issues regarding policing practices and law enforcement accountability."
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Chuck Schumer mentions Floyd's name on Senate floor
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer commemorated Floyd on the one-year anniversary of his death by acknowledging the massive social justice movement that was born as a result.
"This was not only a fight for justice for one man and his family, who I've had the privilege to meet with, but a fight against the discrimination that black men and women suffer at the hands of state power, not just here in America, but around the globe," Schumer said. "It is a fight that continues today."
Schumer also recalled the “stomach-churning video” of Floyd’s death, which was played numerous times during Derek Chauvin’s murder trial.
"George Floyd was murdered in broad daylight by a police officer sworn to protect and serve our country was forever changed by the stomach-churning video of Derek Chauvin killing Mr. Floyd," Schumer said.
Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., are working on bipartisan police reform legislation, Schumer said, but gave no details on what the legislation will look like or when it may be ready for consideration by the Senate.
-ABC News’ Allison Pecorin
Black communities have been 'gaslit' for 100 years: Minnesota AG
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison released a statement Tuesday stating that black people have been dying at the hands of police for the past century and the time for "meaningful change" is now.
"African American communities have been gaslit by people in authority for 100 years: they have been repeatedly told that state-sanctioned violence in their communities is their fault and that they are the criminals, not the ones committing the crimes against them," Ellison said. "But this time, the witnesses to George Floyd’s death and everyone in the world who watched their videos refused to be gaslit. They believed their eyes."
Ellison called on legislators on every level to break the cycle and for Americans of all backgrounds to end racism and white supremacy once and for all.
"For a century, and despite the best efforts of many, America has chosen inaction over climbing this mountain," Ellison said. "But the other side of this mountain is better — not only for African Americans, but for everyone."
-ABC News’ Whitney Lloyd