Darnella Frazier
Darnella Frazier (born March 23, 2003) is an American woman who recorded the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, posting her video on Facebook and Instagram. The video undermined the initial account of Floyd's death by the Minneapolis Police Department,[1] and served as evidence leading to criminal charges against four police officers. Frazier testified during the trial, which ended with the conviction of Derek Chauvin on murder charges, and the convictions of the other three officers on manslaughter. She received a special award and citation from the Pulitzer Prize board in 2021.
Darnella Frazier
March 23, 2003
- Filming the murder of George Floyd
- Receiving a Pulitzer Prize special citation
Leneal Frazier (uncle)
Early life[edit]
Darnella Frazier was born and raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota,[2] and attended Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis. She has several siblings.[3] Described by her lawyer as a normal teenager "with a boyfriend and a job at the mall," Frazier was a high school junior at the time of Floyd's murder.[4]
Awards and acclaim[edit]
In December 2020, free speech advocacy group PEN America presented Frazier with its Benenson Courage Award. Director Spike Lee gave the award in a virtual 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, sparking a bold movement demanding an end to systemic anti-Black racism and violence at the hands of police," adding, "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."[17]
On December 31, 2020, the Daily Dot said, referring to the day of Floyd's murder, "On that day, Frazier became both a citizen journalist and an activist. She also became an American hero, and for that reason, she's the Daily Dot's Internet Person of the Year."[18]
Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, thanked Frazier, saying, "Taking that video, I think many folks know, is maybe the only reason that Derek Chauvin will go to prison".[19]
Pete Souza, who served as White House photographer during the Obama administration, wrote that Frazier "demonstrated courage and perseverance in filming what she knew was wrong," adding that "This verdict does not happen without her," and "Thank you Darnella; you have changed our country forever."[14]
Roy Peter Clark, who has served as a Pulitzer Prize juror four times, recommended Frazier for a Pulitzer Prize in May 2021. He wrote, "Darnella Frazier's work lives in that tradition. Her excruciating video had a social and ethical purpose, one that aligns with journalistic values: To give voice to the voiceless, to speak truth to power, to reveal secrets that the corrupt seek to hide, to stand strong in a moment of personal peril, and to document a fleeting reality that is fraught with meaning."[20] On June 11, 2021, the Pulitzer Prize board issued Frazier a special award and citation, for, "courageously reporting 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."[21]
Personal life[edit]
Frazier's uncle, Leneal Frazier, was killed when a Minneapolis Police Department squad vehicle crashed into his vehicle during high-speed car chase pursuit of a carjacking suspect in the Camden area of Minneapolis on July 6, 2021, at 12:30 a.m. Leneal Frazier was uninvolved in the police pursuit.[22][23]