Children Take the Witness Stand

In the second day of trial, a nine year old girl named Judea was among those who testified against former police officer Derek Chauvin; Racial Reckoning has an exclusive interview. Judea's cousin, who filmed the now viral video of George Floyd’s death, was also called as a witness and gave a moving account of what she saw and how it affected her.

Show Notes

A 9 year old who witnessed the death of George Floyd testified in court Tuesday against Derek Chauvin. In an exclusive interview with the Racial Reckoning project, the girl - who’s name is Judea - said she had to be brave in court like she was brave the day she saw George Floyd die.

“I met George Floyd’s daughter today,” Judea told reporter Georgia Fort. “She was pretty nice. Her mom kept crying, saying ‘thank you, thank you.’”

During Judea’s testimony the Judge decided not to transmit video of her or any of the other three underage witnesses who took the stand Tuesday. Prosecuting attorney Jerry Blackwell asked Judea how seeing Chauvin with his knee on George Floyd’s neck made her feel. 

“I was sad and kind of mad,” said Judea on the witness stand, “‘cuz it feels like it was stopping his breathing and kind of hurting him.” 

Judea’s cousin Darnella Frazier also testified in court. Frazier was 17 when she filmed the now viral video of Derek Chauvin kneeling on George Floyd’s neck.

“It’s been nights I’ve stayed up apologizing and apologizing to George Floyd for not doing more and not physically interacting and not saving his life, but it’s not what I should have done - it’s what HE should have done,” Frazier said, indicating to Derek Chauvin. 

While Frazier didn’t know Floyd, she says it could have been her father or her brother under Chauvin’s knee.   

Georgia Fort reporting for the Racial Reckoning project.

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Racial Reckoning: The Arc of Justice is a journalism initiative from Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities, KMOJ Radio, and the Minnesota Humanities Center covering the trials of the officers accused of killing George Floyd, the community’s reaction, and exploring the changes needed to create a more just society.