Minneapolis Mayor Frey Draws Criticism for George Floyd Post on Memorial Day

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey drew criticism Monday after posting a remembrance of George Floyd on Memorial Day.

"Today, we remember George Floyd, who was murdered by a former Minneapolis police officer six years ago," Frey wrote on X. "That moment changed our city forever."

In follow-up posts, Frey said Floyd's death forced the city to confront issues of race, policing, inequity and trust. He said Minneapolis has been challenged to prove it has changed and is committed to honoring the site both as a memorial and as a neighborhood where people live and work.

Floyd died in May 2020 after officers pinned him to the ground outside a convenience store. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide caused by law enforcement subdual, restraint and neck compression. The report also noted fentanyl and recent methamphetamine use as contributing factors. Four officers, including Derek Chauvin, were convicted and sentenced to prison. Chauvin held his knee on Floyd's neck for about nine minutes.

Frey's post drew immediate pushback because it appeared on Memorial Day. Florida State Rep. Randy Fine, a Republican, wrote that the day honors fallen service members, not Floyd, and called Frey a disgrace. Reporter Andy Ngo said Floyd's death led to riots that caused deaths and billions in damage and produced policies that increased killings. Commentator Tomi Lahren and columnist Dustin Grage also criticized the timing and content of the post.

In a separate post, Frey honored veterans who died in service, saying the country owes them and their families its deepest gratitude.