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Murder

Misinformation Surrounding George Floyd's Death Persists Five Years Later

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Five years have passed since the police killing of George Floyd, but false narratives about his death continue to spread. A recent resurgence in misinformation has emerged as a result of efforts by conservative influencers and politicians to rewrite history and legitimize the actions of those involved. Despite ample evidence showing that officer Derek Chauvin and police misconduct were to blame for Floyd's death, a narrative that Floyd died due to a drug overdose persists. This falsehood has been fueled by misinformation experts and conservatives, including Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and Tucker Carlson, who have repeatedly spread false claims about Floyd's death.

Key Takeaways:

  • The police killing of George Floyd sparked a global movement against police brutality and racism, but false narratives about his death continue to spread five years later.
  • A narrative that Floyd died due to a drug overdose has been repeatedly promoted by conservative influencers and politicians, including Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and Tucker Carlson.
  • Despite ample evidence showing that officer Derek Chauvin and police misconduct were to blame for Floyd's death, Chauvin's 2021 conviction did not spell the end of misinformation about Floyd's death.
  • The false narrative that Floyd died due to a drug overdose has been fueled by concerns that misinformation can be used to delegitimize the demands of social movements and undermine the legitimacy of protesters.
  • Experts say that systemic racism contributes to the proliferation of inaccurate narratives and their staying power.

Statistics:

  • In 2021, a Minnesota jury convicted Chauvin of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.
  • Chauvin also pleaded guilty to twice violating a federal criminal civil rights statute - once against Floyd and once against a 14-year-old in 2017.
  • The state and federal sentences that Chauvin is serving concurrently each exceeded 20 years.
  • The US Department of Justice found, after a two-year investigation sparked by Floyd's death, that the city of Minneapolis and its police department engaged in a pattern of civil rights violations, including use of excessive force and unlawful discrimination against Black and Native American people.
  • The private autopsy commissioned by Floyd's family concluded that Floyd died of suffocation.
  • The private autopsy also found that Floyd had fentanyl intoxication and recent methamphetamine use among "other significant conditions" related to his death, but it did not say drugs killed him.

Sources:

  • "George Floyd, Black man, dies after US police pin him to ground," Al Jazeera, May 27, 2020.
  • "Police chief says Chauvin violated policy in arrest of George Floyd," Al Jazeera, April 5, 2021.
  • "Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene says George Floyd died of a drug overdose," The Guardian, May 14, 2023.
  • "Minnesota jury convicts Chauvin of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter," Al Jazeera, April 20, 2021.
  • "US Department of Justice finds Minneapolis police engaged in pattern of civil rights violations," Al Jazeera, June 16, 2023.
  • "Autopsy report says George Floyd died of suffocation," PolitiFact, September 25, 2020.
  • "Candace Owens amplified false narrative about George Floyd's death," The Guardian, March 2021.
  • "Kanye West repeats false claim that George Floyd died of a drug overdose," The Guardian, October 2022.

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