Minnesota residents whose loved ones were killed by police are demanding accountability from the state Republican Party — which held a public prayer for Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis officer serving prison time for murdering George Floyd.
The prayer event drew sharp condemnation from families who say the GOP’s gesture dismisses their own grief and the broader push for police accountability in Minnesota. Chauvin was convicted in 2021 in Floyd’s May 2020 death and is currently incarcerated.
The state Republican Party hasn’t explained publicly what prompted the prayer event or whether it was an official party function. No party spokesperson comment was immediately available, according to ABC News.
For the families who spoke out, the timing and the public nature of the prayer were the core grievance. Their demands for accountability — and the GOP’s response to them — remain unresolved.
Reported by ABC News on June 5, 2026. Read the original report.
