Two editors from Black Press of America newspapers on the frontlines of the uprising in Minneapolis in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd by four police officers, joined a National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) livestream broadcast on Saturday, May 30, to discuss up-to-the-minute breaking news from the Twin Cities.
Al McFarlane, the editor of Insight News and Mel Reeves, editor of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, spoke of the outrage over the death of Floyd and the future of ex-police officer Derek Chauvin, who was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
“The murder of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department on the evening of Memorial Day — this man was apprehended by police accused of forgery,” he voiced.
He added that many believe undercover police officers and non-African Americans have instigated and ignited riots and fires, which have been blamed on Black people during the uprising.
“People need to be cautious in their criticism, and the truth is it wasn’t they, the young people identified undercover police officers and people who were not Black initiated the burning and breaking of windows,” Reeves continued.