She discussed weeks of sleep problems and moving from hotel to hotel to avoid unwanted attention, and the anxiety she felt when she sees a police car. Darnella Frazier, the young woman who took out her cellphone on a Minneapolis street to record a video of a white police officer as he knelt on George Floyd Three other former Minneapolis police officers: Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng will face charges of assisting and abetting murder and manslaughter in the case. But when she has, she's been clear about her intentions. Frazier went bankrupt in court Tuesday when asked to identify former cop Derek Chauvin, who was charged with murder in the case. "[12], When Chauvin was convicted, analysts agreed that her video and testimony were important to the outcome and had "helped shatter that narrative", referring to the misleading statements initially made by police officials. A year ago, today I witnessed a murder. I believe I witnessed a murder, he told a 911 operator, according to a recording of a call he placed that evening that was played in court. The Pulitzer Prize board announced it was awarding Frazier a special citation for the video she shot on We guarantee you a full refund for up to a year in the rare case that fraud occurs. Darnella Frazier began to cry when prosecutors asked him if he knew Chauvin in a photo showing Floyd with his knee on his neck. We shouldnt have to walk on eggshells around police officers, the same people that are supposed to protect and serve.. She described the trauma of seeing Floyd's murder, and how her life and that of her cousin had changed. Darnella Frazier, third from right, recording with her cellphone as Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into George Floyds neck on May 25, 2020. "[15], In February 2022, Frazier was called to testify at the trial of the three other officers involved in Floyd's murder. On the day of Mr. Floyds death, Ms. Frazier said, she had been walking to the Cup Foods convenience store with her 9-year-old cousin to get some snacks when they came upon the arrest. Ms. Frazier, who is now 18, recounted what she went through after Mr. Floyd was killed. When Ida B. People are documenting their dates on TikTok but is it actually helping them find love? We are all human. Because they are all black. Why did she go into the store, and then you turned around and then came back toward the squad cars? I wanted to make sure she got in. [inaudible] When you walk past the squad car there, did you see anything happening there on the ground as you were walking towards Cup Foods with your cousin? Yes, I see a man on the ground and I see a cop kneeling down on him. Was there anything about the scene that you didnt want your cousin to see? Yes And what was that? A man terrified, scared, begging for his life. Is that why you directed your cousin to going into Cup Foods? Yes. And, and then when you saw what was happening there, at the scene, what was it about the scene that caused you to come back? He wasnt right. Ms. Frazier was 17 when she recorded the Their stories were an expression of the trauma of a city that is still struggling to rebuild physically and emotionally from last summers unrest. Mr. Chauvins lawyer said that the officers felt threatened at what they saw as a growing and increasingly hostile crowd, which diverted their attention from caring for Mr. Floyd. [7] Her video lasted ten minutes and nine seconds, until Floyd's lifeless body was carried away on a stretcher. She couldnt sleep well for weeks, and used to shake so badly at night that her mother would have to rock her to sleep. The lawyer, Mr. Nelson, repeated several vulgar statements that Mr. Williams had made to the officers, and repeatedly asked if he had been growing in anger that evening. So another byproduct of Fraziers video is that it forced journalists and newsrooms to re-evaluate how they report on the police in their communities, and deal with the whiteness in their own operations. I felt in danger when he did that, she said. Pulitzers honor Darnella Frazier who recorded George Floyd murder. May you rest in the most beautiful roses. She also has a An image from a video taken from a police body camera released by the Minneapolis Police Department shows bystanders filming the arrest that led to Mr. Floyds death. Darnella Frazier captured George Floyds death on her cellphone. He said his neck, his back, everything hurt. I didnt know this man from a can of paint, but I knew his life mattered. Ms. Fraziers 9-year-old cousin, who was with her outside the convenience store, Cup Foods, testified to the trauma of seeing Mr. Floyd struggle as Mr. Chauvin knelt on his neck. "[14], On the first anniversary of Floyd's murder, Frazier issued a extended statement on Facebook and Instagram. Although this wasnt the first time, Ive seen a Black man get killed at the hands of the police, this is the first time I witnessed it happen in front of me. But when she has, she's been clear about her intentions. May your soul rest in peace. I am 18 now and I still hold the weight and trauma of what I witnessed a year ago. I don't know how to feel, 'cause it's so sad, bro. Darnella Frazier was born and raised in Saint Paul[2] and later attended Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis. Breaking News USA Everyone talks about the girl who recorded George Floyds death, but to actually be her is a different story. The most prestigious award in journalism didn't go to a single Black reporter for its first 60 years and it's never gone to anyone like Frazier. Frazier has made few public comments outside of the courtroom about her actions but posted a statement on Instagram on the anniversary of Floyds death: A lot of people call me a hero even though I dont see myself as one. The teenagers video shaped the Chauvin trial. Now she was able to raise some money thanks to donations. He was he was suffering. Now, she is under contract with Frazier and is Anyone can read what you share. I have Black friends. March 30, 2021 No type of sympathy 3 3 #POLICEBRUTALITY. Stuff like this happens in silence too many times. On Facebook she wrote with horror about Floyd's death in March 2020, when activists had finally succeeded in bringing it to public attention. She criticized the racial profiling and police brutality that too often victimize Black people. And in the midst of our rage and pain, we cannot let this young black woman become a casualty. [12] She also testified that "When I look at George Floyd, I look at my dad, I look at my brothers, I look at my cousins, my uncles, because they're all Black," adding, "I have a Black father. Darnella Frazier is a Minneapolis teenager filming a viral video of black George Floyd kneeling to death by a Minneapolis police officer. I didnt know what else to do.. They excoriated Mr. Chauvin and the three other officers on the scene, and said they felt scared that the police would harm them, including in one instance when Mr. Chauvin put his hand on his mace. Omar Jimenez (@OmarJimenez) March 30, 2021, In the original video posted online, Facebook user Darnella Frazier said, They killed him right in front of his cup meals on 38th street and Chicago! This years Pulitzer committee added to their number, in a way, by acknowledging Darnella Frazier, 18, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, with a special citation for doing the courageous: filming the police misconduct that resulted in the murder of 46-year-old George Floyd in May 2020. When I look at George Floyd, I look at my dad, she said in court. Her current net worth is $1.5 million. Though Nia Frazier often had to fight for the spotlight on Dance Moms, she has all eyes on her now! Nia now stars on the hit soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful as a main character, and also has a budding music career. A CHILD paid the price of her innocence, her well-being, her hope, so that white people would start to wake the f-$& up. They all said they have struggled with what they saw. . This man was literally right here at 8:00 pm yesterday. [6], At 1:46a.m. on May 26, Frazier posted her video to Facebook and Instagram, adding the caption: "They killed him right in front of cup foods over south on 38th and Chicago!! "[22][23] On October 22, 2021, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said he would charge Minneapolis police officer Brian Cummings, who drove the police vehicle, with second-degree manslaughter and criminal vehicular homicide. I have Black friends. I would get up if I could, something like that., She said Chauvin had like this cold look. He was suffering. And at the end of her post, she spoke directly to Mr. Floyd. The video became a crucial piece of evidence at Chauvin's murder trial this spring, played repeatedly over the course of the proceedings. She said in court that she felt regret for not physically engaging the four officers at the scene, but that they were the ones ultimately at fault. The Pulitzer placed both the enormity of her actions and their impact in a bittersweet context: She embodied the core tenets of journalism of Ida B. Wells kind of journalism when she had the presence of mind to document what she saw, no matter how horrific. Wells was 25 years into her groundbreaking career defined by exposing racism and white supremacist violence against Black people. George Floyd, I cant express enough how I wish things could have went different, but I want you to know you will always be in my heart. "So well deserved.". He was terrified. One-third of US nurses are considering quitting: survey, U.S. Treasury encouraged by First Republic resolution, says banking system remains sound. - Darnella Frazier. There have been nights where Ive stayed up apologizing to George Floyd for not doing more, says Darnella Frazier through tears in court. Everyone talks about the girl who recorded George Floyds death, but to actually be her is a different story., She added, My video didnt save George Floyd, but it put his murderer away and off the streets.. A lot of people call me a hero even though I dont see myself as one. In the days and weeks after millions watched Fraziers video record, protests erupted nationwide and swelled around the globe in solidarity with the movement for Black lives. I dont think people understand how serious death ..that person is never coming back. She added, seemingly referring to Mr. Chauvin, But its like, its not what I should have done, its what he should have done.. These officers shouldnt get to decide if someone gets to live or not. Its been nights I stayed up apologizing and apologizing to George Floyd for not doing more and not physically interacting and not saving his life, she said, according to The New York Times, explaining that she feels guilt for not physically intervening, despite the multiple armed officers at the scene. That could have been one of them., Frazier has rarely spoken about bearing witness to Floyd's death. Minneapolis Police Department, via Associated Press. Committee officials who give out the prestigious prize in journalism and the arts said Frazier's recording highlighted "the crucial role of citizens in journalists' quests for truth and justice.". You know what happened nextFloyd died and Frazier uploaded the footage to social media, which sparked an international movement, demanding justice for Black people who've been the victims of racial violence and a major reckoning around structural racism here and all over the world. Right in front of my eyes, a few feet away. I couldnt sleep properly for weeks. This was the officer that was kneeling on George Floyds neck, Frazier, told Jerry Blackwell, a member of the prosecution team. "Darnella Frazier, who filmed George Floyd's murder by police, should win a Pulitzer Prize: It would be an unusual prize, and Frazier would be the youngest winner in Pulitzer history. But she should win it". NiemanLab. Harvard University. Retrieved June 13, 2021. ^ Izadi, Elahe (June 11, 2021). Following the event, she has had to deal with countless internet trolls and bullies harassing her online. There was a firefighter, high school students and a mixed martial artist. Darnella Frazier was just a 17-year-old girl taking her nine-year-old cousin out for snacks when she stopped and filmed police officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on George Floyd's neck. Jerry Blackwell, a prosecutor, questioned a witness in the trial of Derek Chauvin, a former police officer accused of murdering Mr. Floyd. When she saw officers pinning Mr. Floyd, Ms. Frazier said, she ushered her cousin into the store and then came back out. Darnella Frazier captured George Floyds death on her cellphone. I have a Black brother. Ms. Frazier said that as a crowd of bystanders yelled more loudly at the officers, Mr. Chauvin reached for his mace. Darnella Frazier, the teenager who recorded George Floyds murder, speaks out. Woman who filmed the murder of George Floyd, Trial of J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao, George Floyd protests in MinneapolisSaint Paul, "How the first statement from Minneapolis police made George Floyd's murder seem like George Floyd's fault", "Darnella Frazier, teen who filmed George Floyd's murder, awarded Pulitzer Prize", "A high school 2 miles from where George Floyd died plays outsize role in Chauvin trial", "Who Is Darnella Frazier, the 17-Year-Old Who Filmed George Floyd's Fatal Arrest? She made one of her first public comments last month, as the jury was being selected, when she wrote on Facebook and Instagram that Mr. Chauvin deserves to go down and wondered openly what else got covered up if it was no evidence to see what really happened.. Frazier testified during the trial, which ended with the conviction of Derek Chauvin on murder charges. I grew professional and professional, he said. We want to hear what you THINK. Perspective by Margaret Sullivan. I have a black father, I have a black brother, I have black friends. I was desperate to help, she said, dabbing her eyes with a tissue at times during her testimony. 0. The young girl immediately received attention, awards, help. I just felt like that was the right thing to do, he replied. I own that. Ms. Frazier wore a hoodie over her head and comfortable blue pants, while her cousin, petite with a poof of hair, wore a teal T-shirt that said Love.. She thanked her mother for her support, and expressed pride that her video had helped bring justice in the Floyd murder case, while expressing regret that she had been powerless to save him. He was unresponsive. And in a courtroom on Tuesday, Darnella Frazier, now 18, shared her story publicly for the first time, testifying that she remained haunted by Mr. Floyds cries for help as she watched a police officer kneel on his neck. And is this as you are approaching Cup Foods on May 25? Yes. Now see, there, your cousin goes into the store. Months before the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former police officer who was convicted of killing George Floyd, millions of people around the world watched footage of Mr. Floyds death that had been recorded by a teenage witness. , My stomach hurts, my neck hurts. She has over 32k followers on social media. The world needed to see what I was seeing, she told the Star Tribune last year. Though its a little easier now, she said, she nonetheless carries the burden of that day with her. Those different views reflect longstanding tensions between Black residents in Minneapolis and the police who patrol their neighborhoods. Ms. Hansen, too, seemed to take exception to Mr. Nelsons effort to portray the bystanders as an angry mob. As many as 15 million to 25 million people may have participated in the protests. On Tuesday, Frazier testified at Chauvin's trial. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. When I look at George Floyd I look at my dad. [3] Described by her lawyer as a normal teenager "with a boyfriend and a job at the mall," Frazier was a high school junior at the time of Floyd's murder. He was suffering. [5] Before they could enter the store, they saw the police restraining George Floyd on the pavement. "[17], On December 31, 2020, the Daily Dot said, referring to the day of Floyd's murder, "On that day, Frazier became both a citizen journalist and an activist. I dont know if youve seen anybody be killed, but its upsetting, she responded, earning an admonition from the judge. WebDarnella Frazier Net Worth: Salary, Income, Awards Darnella Frazier became famous for recording the tragic death of George Floyd in 2020. Darnella Frazier, the teen who recorded a comprehensive video of the killing of George Floyd last May, was recognized on Friday by The Pulitzer Prize board. We the people wont take the blame, you wont keep pointing fingers at us as if its our fault, as if we are criminals. [6] Twenty seconds after she started filming, Floyd said "I can't breathe", which was repeated by protesters worldwide on the days and weeks that followed. Its what he should have done.. And I look at that, and I look at how that could have been one of them.. It took unbelievable courage for her to stand there and bear witness to such an awful tragedy. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. A seemingly agitated Mr. Williams pushed back. We shouldnt have to walk on eggshells around police officers, the same people that are supposed to protect and serve. But she added, apparently indicating Chauvin, Its like, its not what I should have done. My video didnt save George Floyd, but it put his murderer away and off the streets. It felt like he was stopping his breathing and it was kind of like hurting him., Ms. Frazier, who was 17 at the time of Mr. Floyds death, testified that she and her cousin were going to a store she had been to many times before to buy snacks. Fraziers grace and humility show the burden that comes with bearing witness: She is seen as a hero but must simultaneously wrestle with the fact that there was nothing more she could have done for Floyd other than bearing that witness. I cant breathe. He he cried for his mom. I cant imagine. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/20/us/darnella-frazier-video.html. Something broke. During a very testy exchange, Mr. Nelson asked Ms. Hansen if she would describe people as upset or angry. She received a special award and citation from the Pulitzer Prize board in 2021. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. The defense has said that the crowd influenced the way the police responded after arriving on the scene. Watch outtt they killed him and the proof is clearlyyyy there!! Behind this smile, behind these awards, behind the publicity, Im a girl trying to heal from something I am reminded of every day, she said. Please," and "They're going to kill me, man," and then, "Don't kill me. To see all the Pulitzer Prize winners, click here. Sign up for Yahoo Lifes daily newsletter, African American man who was a victim of police violence in the United States, killed by Derek Chauvin, American former police officer who murdered George Floyd, Katherine Heigl opens up about body image, Menopausal symptoms from hot flashes to insomnia are negatively impacting women's careers and the economy, says new study. I need some water or something, please. This was a cry for help, definitely.. I was walking my cousin to the store, and I just see him on the ground and I'm like 'What is going on? Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. Like her, most of the six eyewitnesses who testified on Tuesday described feelings of helplessness and anger. WebDarnella Frazier (born March 23, 2003) is an American woman who recorded the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, posting her video on Facebook and Instagram. Genevieve Hansen, 27, had visited a community garden on her day off and was walking home when she saw emergency lights down the block. A jury found him guilty of unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. It wasnt right. Darnella Frazier:Teen who recorded George Floyd's murder reflects on his death a year later. Darnella Frazier, who was 17 when she recorded George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis last year in a clip that would go viral and become a key piece of evidence He was a loved one, someones son, someones father, someones brother, and someones friend. Stay mad. "As the prosecutors congratulate each other, thinking of young Darnella Frazier. Her cell phone video is one of the prosecution's central pieces of evidence. May you rest in the most beautiful roses. Reading through Wells own work more than a century later, it was the courageousness of the people who spoke to her that allowed her to expose the racist corruption behind Americas lynching epidemic. A firefighter and emergency medical technician, she said she went to see if any of her colleagues were there. Thank you. Anyone can read what you share. May you rest in the most beautiful roses.. Why are Black people the only ones viewed this way when every race has some type of wrongdoing? Ms. Frazier recorded the video and uploaded it to Facebook, igniting international protests over racism and police abuse. Stay woke. I have a Black father. Its been nights I stayed up apologizing and apologizing to George Floyd for not doing more and not physically interacting and not saving his life, Ms. Frazier said. In many instances, newsrooms overreliance on the police narrative in local or crime reporting short-circuits meaningful public scrutiny of police conduct, confusing and even obfuscating the publics (and the potential jury pools) perception of events. George Floyd paid the ultimate price of being black in this country. Frazier, who celebrated her 18th birthday only last week, said that witnessing the horrific incident has been deeply impactful. Nope. My 9-year-old cousin who witnessed the same thing I did got apart of her childhood taken from her. You can view George Floyd anyway you choose to view him, despite his past, because dont we all have one? That could have been one of them., Frazier has rarely spoken about bearing witness to Floyd's death. It received a huge worldwide response. A police body camera image shows bystanders including Darnella Frazier (third from right filming) as former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was recorded pressing his knee on George Floyd's neck in Minneapolis. Frazier went bankrupt in court Tuesday when asked to identify former cop Derek Chauvin, who was charged with murder in the case. She was 17 when she filmed Derek Chauvin kneeling on George Floyd's neck. He is charged with murder in Floyd's death. I have a Black father. Floyds case could easily have been another story in which abuse and injustice were overlooked because the official report had been transmitted from the police to the nations majority white newsrooms and thereon to a credulous public at face value. A child had to witness and publish proof of a modern-day lynching for the gatekeepers to recognize the value and import of citizen journalism. I strive every day to be strong for her because she was strong for me when I couldnt be strong for myself. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/25/us/darnella-frazier.html. When I look at George Floyd, I look at my dad, I look at my brothers, I look at my cousins, my uncles, because theyre all Black, she said. Frazier's footage shows Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for almost nine minutes and captures Floyd saying, I can't breathe, before falling out of consciousness. [9], Frazier returned to the scene of the murder the following day, where she was seen crying and hugging protesters. Fraziers citation, though, is particularly poignant at a moment when white support for the Black Lives Matter movement has dropped significantly: In June 2020, support for Black Lives Matter reached 67 percent according to Pew, but fell to 55 percent by September 2020. Others are sharing the link to an online fundraiser titled "Peace and Healing for Darnella Fund," which was created last May and has raised more than $630,000 as of midday Wednesday. Frazier, a 17-year-old high school senior at the time, had taken her 9-year-old cousin to get some snacks at Cup Foods when they happened upon the scene. Wells herself was honored posthumously with a Pulitzer Prize special citation in 2020, a small addition to the 32 Black journalists who have been honored with regular Pulitzers in more than 100 years. Still, it should not go without remark that a child had to witness and publish proof of a modern-day lynching for the gatekeepers to recognize the value and import of citizen journalism. "[8], In a statement released by her lawyer, Frazier said, "I opened my phone and I started recording because I knew if I didn't, no one would believe me". As her voice cracked, Ms. Frazier described how what she witnessed that day last May had changed her life. April It's unclear whether Frazier will be given any money as a result of the Special Citation (such as the $15,000 cash prize given to Pulitzer Prize winners). By bearing witness and hitting record 17-year-old Darnella Frazier may have changed the world. How bans on gender-affirming care is impacting youth across the United States. It has become a crucial point of contention between the prosecution and the defense. Mr. Chauvins lawyer, Eric J. Nelson, did little to press most of the young witnesses or challenge their accounts. In harrowing testimony, she described how she was with her cousin when she came across Floyd, who was on the ground, with Chauvin kneeling on him. Darnella Frazier, who was 17 when she recorded George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis last year, was awarded a special citation by the Pulitzer Board on Friday. WebDarnella (@darnella_frazier03) Instagram photos and videos darnella_frazier03 Verified Follow 84 posts 123K followers 226 following Darnella Public figure Rest In Peace Minneapolis Police Department via AP Please get off of me. When I look at George Floyd, I look at my dad, I look at my brothers, I look at my cousins, my uncles, because theyre all Black, Ms. Frazier said. "The video record she made is one of the most important civil rights documents in a generation.". While hard work is certainly not without its challenges, it can make the difference between success and failure. This is one of them. Chauvin faces second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree murder on Floyds death.