Darnella Frazier facts for kids

Darnella Frazier was born on March 23, 2003. She is an American woman known for recording the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020. She shared her video on Facebook and Instagram. This video showed what really happened, which was different from the first report by the Minneapolis Police Department. Her video became important evidence. It led to police officers being charged with crimes. Frazier also testified in court. This led to Derek Chauvin being found guilty of murder. The other three officers were found guilty of manslaughter. In 2021, she received a special award from the Pulitzer Prize board.

Darnella Frazier's Early Life

Darnella Frazier was born and grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She went to Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis. She has several brothers and sisters. At the time of George Floyd's death, Darnella was a high school junior. Her lawyer described her as a normal teenager. She had a boyfriend and a job at the mall.

The Video of George Floyd

Filming George Floyd's Death

Cup Foods in Minneapolis the day after Floyd's death, May 26, 2020

On May 25, 2020, Darnella Frazier walked to the Cup Foods grocery store. She was with her nine-year-old cousin. Her cousin wanted to buy snacks. Before they could go inside, they saw police officers. The officers were holding George Floyd on the ground. Darnella sent her cousin into the store. Then, she started filming the event with her phone.

Just twenty seconds after she began filming, Floyd said, "I can't breathe." This phrase was later repeated by people protesting all over the world. Her video showed an officer, Derek Chauvin, kneeling on Floyd's neck. Floyd made many distressed comments. He said, "My stomach hurts. My neck hurts. Everything hurts. I need some water or something, please. Please." He also said, "They're going to kill me, man," and then, "Don't kill me." He called out for his "Mama." He also said, "I'm through." Darnella's video lasted for ten minutes and nine seconds. It ended when Floyd's body was carried away on a stretcher.

How the Video Sparked Protests

Street art of Floyd and the words "I can't breathe" in Berlin, Germany

At 1:46 a.m. on May 26, Darnella posted her video online. She put it on Facebook and Instagram. She wrote, "They killed him right in front of cup foods over south on 38th and Chicago!! No type of sympathy </3 </3 #POLICEBRUTALITY." Her video quickly became very popular.

The Minneapolis Police Department first released a statement. They called Floyd's death a "Medical Incident During Police Interaction." Darnella responded to this statement. She wrote, "Medical incident??? Watch outtt they killed him and the proof is clearlyyyy there!!"

Darnella's lawyer shared a statement from her. She said, "I opened my phone and I started recording because I knew if I didn't, no one would believe me."

The next day, Darnella went back to where the event happened. She was seen crying and hugging people who were protesting. She said, "I posted the video last night and it just went viral." She also said, "Everybody's asking me how do I feel? I don't know how to feel, 'cause it's so sad, bro. This man was literally right here at 8:00 pm yesterday. I was walking my cousin to the store, and I just see him on the ground and I'm like 'What is going on?'" She ended by saying, "It is so traumatizing."

In the weeks that followed, Darnella's video helped start huge protests. These protests happened in many U.S. cities and in other countries. Most of the protests were peaceful. However, some cities, like Minneapolis, saw unrest. It is believed that between 15 million and 25 million people took part in these protests. Daniel Q. Gillion, a professor, called Darnella's video a "powerful catalyst" for the protests. He added, "If you aren't moved by the George Floyd video, you have nothing in you."

Darnella's Testimony in Derek Chauvin's Trial

Darnella's video was one of the most important pieces of evidence. It was used in the trial of Derek Chauvin. She testified in court. She said, "It's 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 also explained why this event was so personal to her. She said, "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." She added, "I have a Black father. I have a Black brother. I have Black friends." She concluded, "I look at how that could have been one of them."

When Derek Chauvin was found guilty, experts agreed. They said her video and testimony were very important. They helped show the truth. Darnella celebrated Chauvin's conviction online. She wrote, "This last hour my heart was beating so fast, I was so anxious, anxiety bussing through the roof. But to know GUILTY ON ALL 3 CHARGES !!! THANK YOU GOD THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU." She also wrote, "justice has been served."

One Year Later

On the first anniversary of George Floyd's death, Darnella shared a long message. She described the difficult feelings she had from seeing the event. She explained how her life and her cousin's life had changed. She spoke about unfair treatment by police, especially towards Black people. She talked about having trouble sleeping for weeks. She also mentioned moving from hotel to hotel to avoid unwanted attention. She felt anxious when she saw a police car.

She thanked her mother for support. She was proud that her video helped bring justice in the case. But she also felt sad that she could not save George Floyd. She ended her message speaking directly to Floyd. She said, "I can't express enough how I wish things could have went different, but I want you to know you will always be in my heart. I'll always remember this day because of you. May your soul rest in peace. May you rest in the most beautiful roses."

Testimony in Other Officers' Trial

In February 2022, Darnella was asked to testify again. This was for the trial of the three other officers. They were also involved in George Floyd's death. Soon after she began answering questions, Darnella became upset. She could not continue. The judge called a short break. She was able to finish her testimony after the break.

Awards and Recognition

In December 2020, a group called PEN America gave Darnella an award. It was called the Benenson Courage Award. Director Spike Lee presented the award in an online ceremony. The group's CEO, Suzanne Nossel, said, "With nothing more than a cell phone and sheer guts, Darnella changed the course of history in this country." She added that Darnella started a strong movement. This movement asked for an end to unfair treatment and violence by police. Nossel also said, "Without Darnella's presence of mind and readiness to risk her own safety and wellbeing, we may never have known the truth about George Floyd's murder."

On December 31, 2020, The Daily Dot called Darnella their "Internet Person of the Year." They said that on the day of Floyd's death, "Frazier became both a citizen journalist and an activist. She also became an American hero."

Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, thanked Darnella. He said, "Taking that video, I think many folks know, is maybe the only reason that Derek Chauvin will go to prison."

Pete Souza, a former White House photographer, wrote about Darnella. He said she "demonstrated courage and perseverance in filming what she knew was wrong." He added, "This verdict does not happen without her." He concluded, "Thank you Darnella; you have changed our country forever."

Roy Peter Clark, who has helped choose Pulitzer Prize winners many times, suggested Darnella for a Pulitzer Prize in May 2021. He wrote that her video had an important purpose. It helped show the truth and bring justice. On June 11, 2021, the Pulitzer Prize board gave Darnella a special award. They recognized her for "courageously reporting the murder of George Floyd." They noted that her video "spurred protests against police brutality around the world." It also showed "the crucial role of citizens in journalists' quest for truth and justice."

Darnella's Personal Life

Darnella Frazier's uncle, Leneal Frazier, died in an accident. A Minneapolis Police Department vehicle crashed into his car. This happened during a police chase on July 6, 2021. Leneal Frazier was not involved in the police chase.

See also

• George Floyd protests in Minneapolis–Saint Paul