Caravan for George Floyd as Federal Trial Begins for Officers Lane, Kueng, and Thao
Saint Paul, MN – With a caravan of dozens of cars, protesters in St. Paul continue to demand justice for George Floyd as the federal trial begins for the three former Minneapolis Police officers who assisted Derek Chauvin while he murdered Floyd. Thomas Lane, Alexander Kueng, and Tou Thao, all fired from the Minneapolis Police Department, face federal charges of violating George Floyd’s civil rights. Opening statements began Monday, January 24.
Braving sub-zero weather, organizers from Families Supporting Families, CAIR-MN (Council on American Islamic Relations), and Black Lives Matter MN made speeches before the group of activists proceeded from the old Sears parking lot to the federal courthouse building in St. Paul. Signs reading “They refused to see my humanity,” and “One down, three to go” were visible.
After the caravan arrived near the courthouse, the activists spoke once more and recounted George Floyd’s murder, mentioning how none of the three officers stood up to help him. Donny Williams, the grandfather of Brian Quiñones- Rosario, spoke on his grandson being killed by the police in 2019, and asked where are the sense of humanity was from the other three police officers’ who killed George Floyd.
“Were out here to change the culture of policing in the state of Minnesota, and hold the police and our state accountable.”
-Activist during justice for George Floyd caravan
The organizers spoke of a proposed state law that seeks to make anyone convicted of a crime at a protest ineligible for student loans and many other forms of state financial aid.
“A person convicted of a criminal offense related to the person’s illegal conduct at a protest, demonstration, rally, civil unrest, or march is ineligible for any type of state loan, grant, or assistance, including but not limited to college student loans and grants, rent and mortgage assistance, supplemental nutrition assistance, unemployment benefits and other employment assistance, Minnesota supplemental aid programs, business grants, medical assistance, general assistance, and energy assistance.”
–SF 2381 Minnesota bill authored by Sen. David Osmek posted on 04/08/2021
U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson presides over the federal case that’s being heard at the Warren G. Burger Federal Building on Robert St. in downtown St. Paul. Journalists and media organizations are being restricted to just four media members and a sketch artist during the trial along with a small number of family members on all sides involved. Extra security has closed several main streets during the trial.
Jury selection, different in federal courts than state courts, took only a day. 18 jurors were selected (12 will rule, 6 alternates).
Attorney Earl Gray represents Thomas Lane, Tom Plunkett represents Alexander Kueng, and Robert and Natalie Paule represent Tou Thao. Both Gray and Plunkett have unsuccessfully defended police officers in the recent past, with Gray representing the convicted Kim Potter and Plunkett representing the convicted Mohammed Noor. Representing the government are Samantha Trepel, LeeAnn K. Bell, Manda Sertich, and Allen Slaughter.
The state trial for ‘the other three’ was postponed until June 2022 to allow for the outcome of the federal trial. Lane, Kueng, and Thao are charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder, as well as aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. Chauvin was convicted of murder in April 2021 and sentenced to 22.5 years in prison.
State case files for Lane, Kueng and Thao:
- Thomas Lane’s case files: 27-CR-20-12951: State vs. Thomas Kiernan Lane
- Alexander Kueng’s case files: 27-CR-20-12953: State vs. J Alexander Kueng
- Tou Thao’s case files: 27-CR-20-12949: State vs. Tou Thao
Unicorn Riot's Derek Chauvin Trial Coverage:
- Continued Coverage of the Derek Chauvin Trial
- Derek Chauvin to be Moved to Federal Prison After Sentenced to 21 Years - July 7, 2022
- Ex-Cop Derek Chauvin Sentenced to 22.5 Years for George Floyd Murder - June 25, 2021
- The State’s Conviction of Chauvin Upholds the System’s ‘Innocence’ - April 25, 2021
- Derek Chauvin Found Guilty in Murder of George Floyd - April 22, 2021
- Race and Perception: First Two Weeks of Derek Chauvin Pre-Trial - March 21, 2021
- Black Lives Matter & Blue Lives Matter at Center of Jury Questionnaire - March 11, 2021
- Chauvin Has 3rd Degree Murder Charge Dropped, 2nd Degree Charges Upheld - October 23, 2020
- Ex-Cop Charged in George Floyd Murder Out On $1M Bail - October 7, 2020
- Pretrial Begins: County Attorney Freeman Pulled from George Floyd Police Prosecutions - September 14, 2020
- New Footage Reveals Moments Before George Floyd’s Death - May 30, 2020
- Minneapolis Police Murder Handcuffed Man With Neck-Kneel - May 26, 2020
Unicorn Riot's George Floyd Coverage:
- George Floyd Uprising – Reporter Reflection [5 Episode Series] - Fall 2020
- Beyond the Barricades: A Look At George Floyd Square [Mini-Doc - March 2021]
- Fourth Killer of George Floyd Found Guilty - May 3, 2023
- Two Years After George Floyd - May 27, 2022
- One Year After George Floyd in Europe: Afro-Greeks and African Migrants Speak Out [Videos] - February 17, 2022
- Judge Cahill’s No-Knock Warrant Led to MPD Execution of Amir Locke - February 8, 2022
- Caravan for George Floyd as Federal Trial Begins for Officers Lane, Kueng, and Thao - January 22, 2022
- One Year After George Floyd in Europe: The Deep Roots of Racism in Germany [Video] - October 11, 2021
- Minneapolis Pushes Activists to Their Limits - July 22, 2021
- Ex-Cop Derek Chauvin Sentenced to 22.5 Years for George Floyd Murder - June 25, 2021
- Community Gathers at George Floyd Square After City Removes Concrete Barriers - June 3, 2021
- The State’s Conviction of Chauvin Upholds the System’s ‘Innocence’ - April 25, 2021
- Derek Chauvin Found Guilty in Murder of George Floyd - April 22, 2021
- Derek Chauvin Trial Coverage Landing Page - 2021
- George Floyd Square Celebrates Malcolm X - March 2, 2021
- Jay Kolls: False Reporting From George Floyd Square to D.C. - January 23, 2021
- Minneapolis Police Violently Assault Man Yards From George Floyd Memorial - December 23, 2020
- Behind the Law Enforcement Response to the George Floyd Uprising – Pt 1: Munitions Delivery - December 3, 2020
- Pawn Shop Owner Faces No Charges in Killing Man, State Blames Protesters - November 8, 2020
- Feds Leverage Civil Disorder Charge Against George Floyd Protester - November 1, 2020
- Minneapolis Protest Art Collection Becomes Largest of its Kind - October 28, 2020
- Chauvin Has 3rd Degree Murder Charge Dropped, 2nd Degree Charges Upheld - October 23, 2020
- Youth Lead March After Ex-Cop Charged in Floyd’s Murder Bailed Out - October 14, 2020
- Ex-Cop Charged in George Floyd Murder Out On $1M Bail, Dozens Arrested in Protest - October 7, 2020
- Pretrial Begins: County Attorney Freeman Pulled from George Floyd Police Prosecutions - September 14, 2020
- “No Justice, No Street" – Community Makes Demands, Eviction of George Floyd Memorial Square Delayed - August 17, 2020
- George Floyd Uprising in Minneapolis–Saint Paul — The First Two Weeks - June 14, 2020
- Denver Police Served Temporary Restraining Order Amid Nationwide Protest Repression - June 11, 2020
- Nine Council Members Vow to Disband Minneapolis Police - June 10, 2020
- Rally and March to Defund MPD after George Floyd: Day 12 - June 6, 2020
- George Floyd Memorial Service in Minneapolis - June 4, 2020
- Action at WCCO to End Media Bias Against Victims of Police Violence: Day 9 - June 3, 2020
- Owner Assaulted by Troopers While Protecting His Business - June 2, 2020
- Minneapolis Protests Police Murder of George Floyd: Day 7 - June 1, 2020
- New Footage Reveals Moments Before George Floyd’s Death - May 30, 2020
- Twin Cities Protest Death of George Floyd: Day 3 - May 28, 2020
- Minneapolis Protests Police Murder of George Floyd: Day 2 - May 27, 2020
- Minneapolis Police Murder Handcuffed Man With Neck-Kneel - May 26, 2020
Follow us on X (aka Twitter), Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, Instagram, Mastodon, Threads, BlueSky and Patreon.
Please consider a tax-deductible donation to help sustain our horizontally-organized, non-profit media organization:
