Thousands Mark 5 Years Since George Floyd’s Death, Slam Trump Rollbacks/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Thousands gathered nationwide to honor George Floyd on the 5th anniversary of his murder. Events in Minneapolis, Houston, and beyond spotlighted stalled police reform and criticized Trump’s DEI rollback. Activists say justice and equality remain elusive, but the movement continues.
George Floyd Anniversary Quick Looks
- When & Where: May 25, 2025, events across the U.S., centered at George Floyd Square in Minneapolis
- Who Attended: Civil rights leaders, Floyd’s family, faith leaders, activists, and citizens
- What Happened: Vigils, speeches, gospel concerts, and symbolic marches
- Key Voices: Rev. Al Sharpton, civil rights groups, local organizers
- Main Message: Demand for continued police reform, racial equity, and criticism of the Trump administration’s reversals
- Context: Fifth year since Floyd’s death by police triggered global protests and calls for reform
Deep Look: 5 Years After George Floyd’s Murder, Calls for Justice Grow Louder
Thousands gathered in Minneapolis, Houston, and cities across the country on Sunday to mark the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s death — a moment that ignited one of the largest racial justice movements in U.S. history.
With candles, speeches, gospel music, and continued demands for accountability, the day was filled with powerful memories and calls for change — particularly as activists condemned the Trump administration for rolling back diversity initiatives and halting federal police oversight agreements.
From Tragedy to Movement
At George Floyd Square — the now-iconic Minneapolis intersection where Floyd died under the knee of then-police officer Derek Chauvin — a steady stream of people arrived throughout the day. Many left flowers at the Cup Foods memorial or joined in street-wide vigils and marches.
A brass band led a candlelit procession through city streets, capping off a weekend of reflection that included a “self-care fair,” live music, and storytelling. Across the square, a pig’s head wearing a police hat — a stark visual protest — stood as a reminder of what sparked the movement.
Sharpton Draws Line from Emmett Till to George Floyd
In Houston, Rev. Al Sharpton addressed Floyd’s family and supporters at his gravesite.
“What Emmett Till was in his time, George Floyd has been for this time in history,” Sharpton said, likening Floyd’s death to the 1955 lynching of a Black teen that helped launch the civil rights movement.
Sharpton called out the Trump administration directly, saying its recent decisions “spit on the grave of George Floyd,” referring to its cancellation of federal oversight agreements with Minneapolis and Louisville — cities where police killings of Floyd and Breonna Taylor sparked global protests.
Reform Delayed, Justice Denied?
While President Biden’s administration pushed for federal police reforms early in his second term, the Trump White House reversed course. Just last week, the administration announced the termination of settlement agreements with local police departments that were accused of systemic abuse.
Trump has also moved to dismantle federal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs — and is pressuring schools and governments to follow suit.
In response, Sharpton declared,
“Trump was president when George Floyd happened and he didn’t do anything then. We made things happen. And we’re going to make them happen again.”
“Change Is Too Slow”
Activists in Minneapolis say the city’s pledges to transform public safety have resulted in little real progress.
Michelle Gross, president of Communities United Against Police Brutality, said in a statement:
“The progress being claimed by the city is not being felt in the streets.”
Crowds agreed, with calls for the Minneapolis Police Department to be overhauled and for federal action to be reinstated.
A ‘Racism Pandemic’
Gail Ferguson, a University of Minnesota professor, visited the memorial Sunday as she has every year since 2020. She called Floyd’s death a “global wake-up call.”
“It exposed white supremacy, and it exposed the fragility and passivity that can be part of the culture of whiteness,” Ferguson said.
Remembering Together
For visitors like Detrius Smith, who traveled from Dallas with her daughters and grandchildren, the memorials were an opportunity to teach the next generation.
“We want to do everything we can to work together so everybody can have the same equal rights,” she said.
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