Minneapolis Marks Five Years Since George Floyd’s Death Amid Ongoing Debates

Minneapolis, MN – May 25, 2025 — Five years after the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, the city and the nation paused this weekend to remember, reflect, and renew debate over his legacy and the future of racial justice in America.

Commemorations and Remembrance

Thousands gathered in Minneapolis and across the country for church services, candlelight vigils, concerts, and festivals to honor Floyd’s life and the movement his death ignited. The focal point in Minneapolis was George Floyd Square—the intersection of 38th Street East and Chicago Avenue, where Floyd was killed and which has since become a site of pilgrimage and protest. The area remains adorned with murals, sculptures, and a makeshift memorial of flowers and tributes, drawing steady streams of mourners and activists throughout the day.

The Rise & Remember Festival, now an annual tradition at George Floyd Square, featured a morning church service, an evening gospel concert, and a candlelight vigil. The festival’s 2025 theme, “The people have spoken,” was inspired by a call to continue the work begun in the wake of Floyd’s death.

In Houston, Floyd’s hometown, Rev. Al Sharpton led a graveside service, comparing Floyd’s killing to the 1955 lynching of Emmett Till and calling for renewed commitment to justice. “What Emmett Till was in his time, George Floyd has been for this time in history,” Sharpton said.

Legacy and Ongoing Controversies

George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, died on May 25, 2020, after former officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for over nine minutes during an arrest. The incident, captured on video, led to Chauvin’s conviction for murder and manslaughter, as well as federal civil rights convictions for three other officers involved. The footage sparked global protests and a surge in the #BlackLivesMatter movement, with nearly 48 million hashtag uses in the weeks following Floyd’s death.

However, debates persist. Some have reignited claims that Floyd’s death was due to a fentanyl overdose, citing autopsy findings, but the official Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s report ruled the death a homicide caused by cardiopulmonary arrest due to police restraint—a conclusion supported by expert testimony during Chauvin’s trial.

Reform, Resistance, and Division

While Floyd’s death spurred promises of police reform and a reckoning with systemic racism, activists and community members say progress has been slow. Some point to ongoing economic disparities and persistent issues with policing, while others note that the momentum for reform appears to be fading. Recent actions by the Trump administration to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and to cancel federal settlements mandating police reforms in Minneapolis and Louisville, have fueled concerns that the nation is moving backward on racial justice.

Michelle Gross, president of Communities United Against Police Brutality, expressed frustration: “The progress being claimed by the city is not being felt in the streets”. Meanwhile, the future of George Floyd Square remains uncertain, with city officials and residents debating whether to preserve its protest-driven character or open it to traffic and redevelopment.

A Divided Reflection

As Minneapolis and the nation mark the fifth anniversary of Floyd’s death, the city is both a site of remembrance and a battleground for the future of racial justice. Some see signs of progress in community-police relations, while others warn that the underlying issues remain unresolved. The anniversary serves as a stark reminder of both the enduring call for justice and the challenges of sustaining meaningful change.

“Now is the time for the people to rise up and continue the good work we started,” said Angela Harrelson, Floyd’s aunt and board co-chair of the Rise and Remember nonprofit.

The debate over Floyd’s legacy, the fate of his memorial, and the direction of police reform continues to shape Minneapolis—and the nation—five years on.