Cities Mark 5th Anniversary of George Floyd Death Amid Police Reform Backlash

On the fifth anniversary of George Floyd's murder by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, various cities including Minneapolis and Houston are holding religious services, concerts, and vigils to commemorate his death. Events in Minneapolis focus on George Floyd Square, the site of the killing, featuring a series of activities from concerts to a candlelight vigil, while Houston hosts memorial services at Floyd's gravesite led by Rev. Al Sharpton. Activists, however, express frustration over slow progress toward police reform, noting a backlash from the Trump administration, which recently canceled settlements aimed at overhauling police departments in Minneapolis and Louisville. Despite promises from Minneapolis officials to reform the police, community leaders like Michelle Gross highlight that the claimed progress has not translated into tangible change on the streets. The remembrances occur amid ongoing debates about racial justice and police oversight, with the Biden administration having previously pushed for aggressive federal oversight of local police departments accused of misconduct. This anniversary reflects both a moment of remembrance and the continuing struggle for meaningful police reform in the United States.