By: Charlotte Juan

As Derek Chauvin sits on trial for charges of murder and manslaughter of George Floyd, the video that captured the incident and sparked outrage around the world is once again in the spotlight.

Darnella Frazier is the teenage girl and digital activist whose recording of the event has been a key part of the prosecution’s case in this trial, being described as “essentially Exhibit A”. Even in the opening statement of the prosecution, clips from her recording were played for the jurors.

EXPLAINER: Video dominates trial in George Floyd’s death

Frazier also stood as a witness for the prosecution on March 30th, and along with four other witnesses who were minors at the time of the incident, took the stand off camera. “I stay up nights apologizing to George Floyd for not doing more” she says through tears during her closing witness testimony when asked how this incident has impacted her own life, and states how she now constantly sees the possibility of George Floyd’s fate in the faces of her black father, black brothers, black cousins, and black friends. She’s also clearly heartbroken as she vocalizes how sorry she is for “not physically interacting and not saving his life.”

With that said, Darnella’s testimony and recording have been crucial to this investigation, and her words have strength as she acknowledges “It’s not what I should have done, it’s what [Chauvin] should have done”.

By: Charlotte Juan

As Derek Chauvin sits on trial for charges of murder and manslaughter of George Floyd, the video that captured the incident and sparked outrage around the world is once again in the spotlight.

Darnella Frazier is the teenage girl and digital activist whose recording of the event has been a key part of the prosecution’s case in this trial, being described as “essentially Exhibit A”. Even in the opening statement of the prosecution, clips from her recording were played for the jurors.

EXPLAINER: Video dominates trial in George Floyd’s death

Frazier also stood as a witness for the prosecution on March 30th, and along with four other witnesses who were minors at the time of the incident, took the stand off camera. “I stay up nights apologizing to George Floyd for not doing more” she says through tears during her closing witness testimony when asked how this incident has impacted her own life, and states how she now constantly sees the possibility of George Floyd’s fate in the faces of her black father, black brothers, black cousins, and black friends. She’s also clearly heartbroken as she vocalizes how sorry she is for “not physically interacting and not saving his life.”

With that said, Darnella’s testimony and recording have been crucial to this investigation, and her words have strength as she acknowledges “It’s not what I should have done, it’s what [Chauvin] should have done”.

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