Darnella Frazier, 17, was out with her 9-year old cousin to nearby Cup Foods when she saw Geroge Floyd getting detained by the police. She could hear the man pleading to let him breathe and the police officer in return did not remove his knee from the man's neck. At that time, Frazier did one thing that she thought was most sensible to do. She filmed the whole disturbing ordeal and later shared it on social media. This video went viral on social media and gave birth to the Black Lives Movement campaign. The girl is now getting honored with an award for her courage.
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Though there have been many campaigns in past to address issues of racial discrimination in America but Black Lives Matter campaign is one that will be written in history for its revolutionary and powerful momentum that engulfed America after a video of a black man breathing for air was killed brutally by police officers in broad daylight.
An important credit of this video goes to the teenager who recorded this ordeal. Had this video not been made, like many other incidents of racial discrimination, this incident would have also gone unnoticed.
The teenager has been awarded an award for her incredible courage at a virtual gala.
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George Floyd was a 46-year old African American man, a clip of the man struggling for air and crying to breathe shocked the whole world after a video showed him being pinned to the ground by three Minneapolis police officers after he was accused of buying cigarettes with a counterfeit $20 bill.
The man could be heard in the clip repeatedly saying, 'I can't breathe,' which eventually became a chant for all those people who came out on the streets in the wake of this incident, referring to the racial discrimination blacks face in their lives in America.
According to the New York Times, officer Derek Chauvin held his knee on Floyd's neck for at least eight minutes and 15 seconds.
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BBC News reports, the man died on the spot as paramedics didn't find any sign of life and he was officially pronounced dead at Hennepin County Medical Center an hour later.
All this was possible due to the brave act of Darnella Frazier, 17, who filmed the whole incident and this clip sparked protests throughout the country with people calling out systemic injustices and police brutality against blacks.
As an acknowledgment of her bravery, this young woman is honored by the literary and human rights organization PEN America, USA Today reports.
The video when uploaded on social media sparked a huge outcry from the whole world over the cruel murder and gave birth to the Black Lives Matter movement.
The protests also led to the dismissals and arrests of officer Chauvin and the other three officers involved.
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In a statement, PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel praised Frazier's "exceptional courage", writing:
"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.
"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."
In response to the honor, Frazier says,
"I never would've imagined out of my whole 17 years of living that this'll be me.
"It's just a lot to take in, but I couldn't say thank you enough for everything that's been coming towards me."
Frazier's attorney, Seth Cobin after the incident told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that the 17-year old wasn't looking to be a hero, but insisted that she is "just a 17-year-old high school student, with a boyfriend and a job at the mall, who did the right thing."