There was one moment at the GOP convention this past weekend that stuck out to observers, and that was holding a moment of silence for convicted murdered, Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who held his knee on George Floyd's neck for nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed and lying face down on the street calling out "I can't breathe" in 2020.
Chauvin was found guilty by a jury in 2021 on three counts: unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.
Despite that, state Republicans still held a moment of silence to honor Chauvin. State Party Chair Alex Plechash, speaking to WCCO's Vineeta Sawkar, said it came from the body, not party leadership.
"It didn't come from the dais, and the body elected to have that moment of silence," Plechash explains. "We got maybe 10 seconds or so. There are a lot of people, I think, that believe that Derek Chauvin was improperly convicted and not treated well. And those people wanted to have a moment of silence and recognition because they felt that way."
When pressed on whether or not he agrees with that sentiment, Plechash declined to answer, saying "I don't think I'm going to comment on that," and that the court system had its verdict.
"I'm not going to challenge the court," he added.
Pressed further about the fact that a convicted murderer had a moment of silence at the convention, Plechash again declined to answer saying that would indicate his stance on the court's opinion.
"So, I think I'll just let that pass," he said.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison blasted the moment of silence, saying in a statement he is heartbroken and shocked.
"George Floyd’s children lost their father," said Ellison. "His siblings lost their brother. His community lost a neighbor and friend. That loss is permanent and irreparable. The jury heard all the evidence. The appeals courts reviewed every claim. Justice was rendered according to our system of law. To honor the man convicted of murdering George Floyd— days after the very anniversary of that terrible day—is an act of profound cruelty to the Floyd family and to every Minnesotan who believes in accountability under law."
The man who won the GOP party nomination for governor, former health care executive Kendall Qualls, also spoke somewhat evasively about the moment of silence and whether or not he supported the decision to honor Chauvin. But he spoke more broadly about his support of law enforcement when speaking to WCCO's Chad Hartman.
"I said one of the first things I would do when we go on the steps of the Capitol, we make a public apology," Qualls said as a hypothetical if he were elected governor. "About how our law enforcement officers over the last eight to 10 years have been made to be scapegoats. And I mean that, and I believe that they've been made to be scapegoats. Now, when it comes to the incident that happened at the convention, I wasn't privy that was going to be done beforehand. I didn't know that."
Qualls also said that based on what he believes to be evidence that's come forward since the trial, Chauvin's guilt may not be as much of a given as the public initially thought.
"There's a lot of people, there's a lot of evidence, facts have said that this was not a given scrutiny or was not given information at his trial, or in the public until after the trial was over," Qualls said. "So I could see why they would have that moment of silence."
Chauvin and his lawyers have appealed his verdict multiple times. However, his appeals, including to the Minnesota Supreme Court were denied, and an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court based around claims he didn't get a fair trial was also denied.
When asked directly by Hartman if he would have approved the moment of silence, given that choice, Qualls agreed it was not the appropriate time, place, or act.
"That was probably not the venue to do that or timing to do that," he said Monday. "I think there is a better way to convey that information. So, I think that's a good question. I got to tell you, given that some thought, I don't know if that was the venue to do it or the timing to do it."
"It sounds like you're saying no," Hartman followed-up.
"I do have my I do have my own concerns about the trial itself and the condition of Derek Chauvin, and how he was treated," Qualls answered, but added he would not go so far as to call it a mistake.
Chauvin is currently serving 22.5 years in federal prison.
Chauvin was tried and convicted for the murder of George Floyd in 2020
Chauvin was tried and convicted for the murder of George Floyd in 2020
