This archive report was first published on 12 June 2021.
On 25 May 2020, Darnella Frazier, then 17, witnessed a pivotal moment in history while walking with her cousin in Minneapolis. She captured the murder of George Floyd by a white police officer on her phone, an act of courage that would change her life and the world.
The video, which showed Floyd begging for his life, was replayed around the world and sparked mass protests and a racial reckoning in the US. To many, Floyd's death while in police custody became a symbol of police brutality – particularly against people of colour – and it sparked worldwide demonstrations for racial justice.
Ms Frazier's video was used as evidence at the murder trial of Derek Chauvin, the police officer who killed Floyd. Chauvin was later found guilty on three charges: second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and manslaughter.
Ms Frazier, now 18, has been awarded a special journalism award by the Pulitzer Prize board for her courage in recording the murder. The committee honoured her for “courageously recording the murder of George Floyd, a video that spurred protests against police brutality around the world, highlighting the crucial role of citizens in journalists’ quest for truth and justice.”
