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98-403: Ingersoll was founded in 1977 by Marsha C. Botzer and gained non-profit status in 1984. One of the reasons Botzer has cited for founding the organization is a problem of joblessness and underemployment of transgender people. Botzer is quoted in the 2021 book Going to Trinidad by journalist Martin J. Smith that in the early years of the center she would tuck Ingersoll Center business cards between

196-748: A homicide . On March 12, 2021, Minneapolis agreed to pay US$ 27 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit brought by Floyd's family. On April 20, Chauvin was convicted of unintentional second-degree murder , third-degree murder , and second-degree manslaughter , and on June 25 he was sentenced to 22 + 1 ⁄ 2 years in prison. All four officers faced federal civil rights charges. In December 2021, Chauvin pleaded guilty to federal charges of violating Floyd's civil rights by using unreasonable force and ignoring his serious medical distress. The other three officers were also later convicted of violating Floyd's civil rights. Lane pleaded guilty in May 2022 to

294-508: A pulmonologist , testified that Floyd's chances of survival could have "doubled or tripled" if the officers performed CPR on him. Use-of-force expert Tim Longo testified that Chauvin was acting outside of department protocol and the other officers should have intervened to save Floyd, although Lane's defense questioned this view. Testimony was also heard from Darnella Frazier, who filmed the initial arrest and Floyd's subsequent murder. The prosecution rested with this testimony. Tou Thao took

392-579: A wrongful death lawsuit in federal court against the City of Minneapolis and the four officers involved in the murder. The complaint said Floyd's Fourth Amendment rights were violated by "excessive use of unjustified, excessive, illegal, and deadly force". The lawsuit did not specify the amount of monetary damages the family sought. On March 12, 2021, the City of Minneapolis announced a settlement with Floyd's family for $ 27 million. The City Council approved it unanimously. Family lawyer Ben Crump called it

490-457: A "comprehensive investigation will compile all available information and thoroughly evaluate evidence and information obtained from witnesses ... If it is determined that there has been a violation of federal law, criminal charges will be sought". On May 28, state and federal prosecutors held a press conference at a regional FBI office in Brooklyn Center , a Minneapolis suburb, in what

588-491: A 44-year-old police officer who had served in the Minneapolis Police Department since 2001. Chauvin and Floyd sometimes worked overlapping shifts as security guards for a local nightclub, but the club's former owner was unsure of the extent of their acquaintance. Tou Thao, a Hmong-American , was 34 at the time of Floyd's murder and started as a part-time community service officer in 2008. He graduated from

686-439: A cardiac arrest. Andrew Baker, who performed Floyd's autopsy, also took the stand to repeat his testimony from Chauvin's trial. The court postponed trial proceedings until February 7, after Lane tested positive for COVID-19 . When the trial resumed, officer Nicole Mackenzie testified that Kueng and Lane were in a medical training course that she instructed, and that her course included lessons in first aid . Dr. David Systrom,

784-401: A few hours before Baker's final findings were issued. From the evidence available to them, which did not include a toxicology report or unspecified bodily samples, they found that Floyd's death was a homicide caused by asphyxia due to neck and back compression. Also, Floyd had no underlying medical problem that contributed to his death. They said that neck compression affected blood flow to

882-470: A half years in jail. On the evening of May 25, 2020, sometime before 8:00 pm, Floyd purchased cigarettes at Cup Foods, a grocery store at the intersection of East 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis's Powderhorn Park neighborhood. A store employee believed Floyd had paid with a counterfeit $ 20 bill. Employees approached Floyd while he was in his vehicle and demanded that he return

980-495: A hearing in December 2021 to offer a revised plea to the federal charges, a legal move that did not apply to the other three officers. He pled guilty on December 15, 2021, to the federal charges of violating the rights of Floyd and for the charge related to the 2017 incident. Chauvin admitted to willfully violating Floyd's constitutional right to be free from unreasonable seizure, including the right to be free from unreasonable force by

1078-423: A jury trial on the state charge in lieu of a review of the evidence and a determination by a judge. He was found guilty of aiding and abetting manslaughter in a written verdict delivered on May 2, 2023, and he was sentenced to 4 + 3 ⁄ 4 years in prison. Floyd's murder led to worldwide protests against police brutality , police racism , and lack of police accountability . George Perry Floyd Jr.

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1176-420: A list of allegations and demanded the resignations of Executive Director Karter Booher, Program Director Jonathan Lee Williams, and Operations Director Louis Mitchell. Other demands included a public apology, an investigation to be performed, and that racial equity consultants be brought into the organization. Evelyn Chow, a member of Ingersoll Collective Action who was also the company's economic justice manager at

1274-406: A man on the ground as bystanders pleaded for them to show mercy. Kueng and Lane were with Chauvin as the day was part of their field training. The man, whom they detained wrongfully, said he had trouble breathing, and the incident was later said to be similar to Floyd's arrest. Kueng and Lane were in their first week as Minneapolis police officers when Floyd was murdered. Lane's application to join

1372-408: A minute after the ambulance arrived, despite Floyd being silent and motionless. Around 8:29, paramedics lifted Floyd onto a stretcher, then loaded him into an ambulance. Lane boarded the ambulance and checked Floyd's pulse at his neck, and a medic instructed him to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation . A medical device was placed on Floyd's chest to provide mechanical chest compressions, and

1470-454: A minute around 8:18 in the driver's side backseat while Thao watches. According to The New York Times , at 8:19, Chauvin pulled Floyd across the backseat from the driver's side to the passenger side. Then, according to NPR , Floyd exited the vehicle while being pulled out by police and fell to the pavement. While Floyd lay on his chest with his cheek to the ground, Chauvin knelt on his neck. Floyd stopped moving around 8:20, though he

1568-509: A motion in federal court to vacate his guilty plea. The federal civil rights trial of Kueng, Lane, and Thao was held at a courtroom in the Warren E. Burger Federal Building in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Jury selection began on January 20, 2022, and opening statements were given by both sides on January 24. The 12-person jury seated for the trial was drawn from across Minnesota. The racial makeup of

1666-618: A new trial. On April 17, 2023, a three-judge panel for the Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed the original criminal conviction. Chauvin petitioned for review by the Minnesota Supreme Court , which denied the petition in an order issued on July 19, 2023. Attorneys for Chauvin filed a petition to the United States Supreme Court for review, but it was rejected on November 20, 2023. The federal civil rights trial

1764-587: A part of the investigation. On April 16, Ingersoll announced that Karter Booher and Louis Mitchell were resigning for personal reasons and their departure would be effective June 1, 2021. Marsha C. Botzer Marsha C. Botzer is a Seattle based activist and non-profit administrator who has been working in the Transgender rights movement since the mid-1970s. Botzer is a trans woman herself. She founded Ingersoll Gender Center in Seattle in 1977, making it

1862-492: A police officer. Chauvin also admitted to willfully violating Floyd's constitutional right not to be deprived of liberty without due process of law, including the right to be free from a police officer's deliberate indifference to Floyd's serious medical needs. On July 7, 2022, Judge Magnuson sentenced Chauvin to 21 years, with roughly 17 incarcerated and 5 under supervised release, that will be served concurrently with his state criminal sentence. In mid-November 2023, Chauvin filed

1960-580: A response to their request for transparency with the investigation to their website, which said that the center had hired Onik’a Gilliam-Cathcart from the Seattle law firm Helsell Fetterman. However on March 23, Ingersoll Collective Action made another public post stating their disappointment with the response from the organization to date. On March 26 the center announced to their staff that all staff and contractors would be receiving two weeks of paid time off starting April 3, 2021 and that Gilliam-Cathcart would be reaching out to current staff during that period as

2058-572: A second person, standing near the Cup Foods entrance, began recording the incident. Floyd can be heard repeatedly saying "I can't breathe", "Please", and "Mama"; Lane then asked for an ambulance for Floyd, "for one bleeding from the mouth". Floyd repeated at least 16 times that he could not breathe. At one point, a witness said: "You got him down. Let him breathe." After Floyd said, "I'm about to die", Chauvin told him to "relax". An officer asked Floyd, "What do you want?"; Floyd answered, "Please,

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2156-462: A similar space to Ingersoll made public statements in support of the petition. Among these were Queer the Land, Trans Women of Color Solidarity Network, Pride Foundation , Alphabet Alliance of Color, Seattle Pride , and Gender Justice League . The board of Ingersoll Gender Center responded in a public statement and pledged to conduct an investigation on March 17, 2021. Ingersoll Collective Action published

2254-457: A state charge of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter and was sentenced on September 21, 2022, to three years in prison to be served concurrently with his federal sentence of 2 + 1 ⁄ 2 years. Kueng pleaded guilty on October 24, 2022, to the state charges of aiding and abetting manslaughter and was sentenced to 3 + 1 ⁄ 2 years in prison, to be served concurrently with his federal sentence. Thao waived his right to

2352-513: A street. Two other police officers, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane, assisted Chauvin in restraining Floyd. Lane had also pointed a gun at Floyd's head before Floyd was handcuffed. A fourth police officer, Tou Thao, prevented bystanders from intervening. Before being placed on the ground, Floyd had exhibited signs of anxiety , complaining about having claustrophobia , and being unable to breathe. After being restrained, he became more distressed, still complaining of breathing difficulties, of

2450-480: Is inherently dangerous". He was the first officer in Minnesota to be charged in the death of a black civilian. On June 3 , the charge against Chauvin was upgraded to second-degree murder , and the three other officers were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder as well as aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. The officers were held in jail after the state criminal charges were filed. Before

2548-472: Is why you don't do drugs, kids." By 8:25, Floyd appeared unconscious, and bystanders confronted the officers about his condition. Chauvin pulled out mace to keep bystanders away as Thao moved between them and Chauvin. Bystanders repeatedly yelled that Floyd was "not responsive right now" and urged the officers to check his pulse. Kueng checked Floyd's wrist but found no pulse; the officers did not attempt to provide Floyd with medical assistance while he

2646-471: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was joining the investigation. The four officers were briefly placed on paid administrative leave before being fired later that day. Two autopsies—one by a local government official and one by doctors working for Floyd's family—determined that his death was a homicide. Released on June 1, 2020, they differed over whether there were contributing factors and whether

2744-771: The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) made an announcement of a new "trans-centered" framework, making transgender issues a priority for the organization for the first time. Dozens of transgender activists and organizations wrote an open letter of criticism and concern over this announcement. The letter said that the HRC was a cisgender-led organization that was co-opting ideas and efforts made by transgender (and especially trans people of color) activists. Two leaders of Ingersoll Gender Center signed this letter. Ingersoll Gender Center signed on with over 100 other American LGBT organizations to condemn racism in policing and police brutality following

2842-701: The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed his federal conviction. The state criminal trial of Kueng, Lane, and Thao was delayed several times to allow the federal civil rights case to proceed first. In a ruling on April 26, 2022, Judge Peter Cahill, who also presided over Chauvin's trial, ordered that the proceedings of the trial would not be livestreamed, a move that media organizations criticized. Lane pleaded guilty in Hennepin County District Court on May 18, 2022, to

2940-404: The murder of George Floyd . On March 12, 2021 about a dozen present and former staff of Ingersoll came together as Ingersoll Collective Action and released a petition on actionnetwork.org alleging racist and abusive working conditions within the organization. The collective self-identified as Black, persons of color , transgender, and disabled current and former employees. The petition included

3038-449: The shooting of Justine Damond , a white woman. Following Chauvin's conviction, Judge Cahill revoked his bail and Chauvin was taken back into custody. Chauvin was given a sentence of 22.5 years imprisonment. On May 12, 2021, Judge Cahill allowed for the prosecution to seek a greater prison sentence than the 12.5-year state guideline after finding that Chauvin treated Floyd "with particular cruelty." Chauvin filed an appeal requesting

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3136-558: The "largest pre-trial settlement in a civil rights wrongful death case in U.S. history". The settlement surpassed the previous record for Minneapolis of $ 20 million, paid in 2019 in the killing of Justine Damond . The city allocated $ 500,000 "for the benefit of the community around 38th and Chicago", the intersection where Floyd was murdered. Chauvin's trial commenced in Minneapolis on March 8, 2021, in Hennepin County District Court. Opening statements occurred on March 29, 2021, and closing arguments on April 19, 2021. On April 20, 2021,

3234-578: The Minneapolis Police Department issued a statement that said nothing about Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck: "After Floyd got out of his car, he physically resisted officers. Officers were able to get the suspect into handcuffs and noted he appeared to be suffering medical distress." Hours later, witness and security camera video circulating on the internet showed Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck. The department updated its statement, saying "new information" had "been made available" and that

3332-658: The Minneapolis Police found that the city and the police department engaged in a "pattern or practice of race discrimination" and that the police department's organizational culture had "flawed training and emphasized a paramilitary approach" with a lack of accountability. In February 2021, the United States Department of Justice empaneled a grand jury in Minneapolis as part of a federal investigation into Chauvin. On May 7, 2021, all four officers were indicted on federal charges of civil rights violations. Chauvin

3430-455: The Seattle region before a law was passed in 2016 that outlawed the practice within the city. In 2012, the organization launched a program for vocational support called Seattle Transgender Economic Empowerment Project (STEEP). Botzer joined a Seattle LGBTQ task force under Mayor Ed Murray , and in 2015 the task force proposed city-wide legislation requiring that all single-occupancy restrooms be available as all gender restrooms . Later that year

3528-542: The State of Minnesota banning chokeholds and neck restraints, requiring police officers to intervene against other officers' use of excessive force, and requiring authorization from the police chief or designate before using crowd-control weapons such as chemical agents and rubber bullets. On June 8, a Hennepin County Court judge ordered the Minneapolis Police Department to cooperate with a civil rights investigation, and extended

3626-742: The United States , Ingersoll Gender Center started publishing annual voter's guides with the first being for 2017. At the start of 2017, University of Washington School of Medicine launched a program to focus on training doctors in LGBTQ+ healthcare with collaboration and consulting from the gender center. The group lobbied for Washington state to allow the gender marker "X" option on driver's licenses and identification cards, which became state policy in November 2019. The organization has also worked with local real estate developers on an affordable housing project in

3724-516: The agreed cause, restraint and neck compression, was combined with subdual or asphyxiation. Andrew Baker, a pathologist and Hennepin County's chief medical examiner since 2004, performed an autopsy examination at 9:25 a.m. on May 26. Prosecutors summarized portions of Baker's preliminary findings in charging documents that were released publicly on May 29 . Baker's final autopsy findings, issued on June 1, found that Floyd's heart stopped while he

3822-550: The ambulance departed for Hennepin County Medical Center . En route, the ambulance requested assistance from the Minneapolis Fire Department . At 8:32, firefighters arrived at Cup Foods; according to their report, the police officers gave no clear information about Floyd's condition or whereabouts, which delayed their ability to find the ambulance. Meanwhile, the ambulance reported that Floyd

3920-718: The brain, that ability to speak does not imply ability to breathe, and that Floyd apparently died at the scene. It was revealed in August 2020 that the United States Department of Justice had the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's official autopsy results reviewed by the Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner, which agreed with them. The Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner added that

4018-422: The charge of aiding and abetting manslaughter related to the murder of George Floyd. The charge against Lane for aiding and abetting second-degree murder was dismissed. Lane agreed to a three-year sentence, with two years in prison, to be served concurrently with his civil rights federal conviction. On September 21, 2022, Lane was formally sentenced by the Hennepin County District Court to three years in prison. In

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4116-437: The charges at a September 14, 2021, arraignment hearing. Chauvin faced an additional federal charge for a 2017 arrest incident of a 14-year old in Minneapolis that he initially pled not guilty to. In late 2020, prior to the trial, lawyers for Thao, Lane, and Kueng had sought to sever their case from Chauvin's. In a hearing on November 29, 2021, Magnuson ruled that all four officers would stand trial together. Chauvin requested

4214-431: The cigarettes; he refused. A store employee called the police to report that Floyd had passed "fake bills" and was "awfully drunk" and "not in control of himself". The store owner later said that most patrons who pay in counterfeit bills do not know they are fake, and that the store called the police to "make sure there is no crime being committed". The store's security camera recorded the interaction between Floyd and

4312-490: The communities it serves with issues brought on or exacerbated by the pandemic. Part of the city of Seattle's early relief efforts was to distribute grocery store vouchers to residents who had lost work due to the pandemic. The city gave some vouchers to organizations, including Ingersoll Gender Center, to distribute within their communities to impacted families and individuals. In 2021 the Seattle Police Department

4410-414: The community she had worked to build had reached a solid foundation and she had the confidence to focus her efforts more on political and social change. The first phase of this political activism, according to Botzer, was to reach out to organizations focusing on gay , lesbian , and bisexual issues to advocate that transgender issues should be discussed in the same spaces as issues of sexuality. Botzer

4508-504: The decades but was still on the board of directors at the time. When the press sought her for comment on the story she declined to give a personal statement and stood by the statements provided by the organization and its board instead. Botzer was not named among any of those persons Ingersoll Collective Action demanded resign, be removed, or investigated. In 2015, Tel Aviv celebrated its 40th Pride in an event organized by A Wider Bridge , an American LGBTQ organization that works to bridge

4606-610: The decision to strike down anti-sodomy laws , Botzer worked via the Pride Foundation advocating on behalf of employees of Walmart to include discrimination on the basis of homosexuality to the company's anti-discrimination policy. Botzer co-authored a research paper published in the International Journal of Transgender Health in 2010 that proposes changes to the DSM-5 for diagnoses related to transgenderism. In 2019 Botzer

4704-465: The door opened, he drew his gun and ordered Floyd to show his hands. When Floyd complied, Lane holstered his weapon. Someone parked behind Floyd's SUV began recording a video at 8:10. They briefly struggled, and Lane pulled Floyd from the SUV and handcuffed him. Two other people in the car with Floyd, including 45-year-old Shawanda Hill, were interrogated. At 8:12, Kueng sat Floyd on the sidewalk against

4802-448: The election of Bruce Harrell as Mayor of Seattle , Botzer was appointed to his administration's transition team; Botzer was a member of the group dedicated to "labor and workforce". Throughout the 1990s and early 21st Century Botzer has served on the boards of many organizations working in the space of human rights related to gender identity and sexuality . She has also founded several such organizations. Since 2011 Botzer has been on

4900-424: The employees. At 8:08, Kueng and Lane arrived, briefly entering Cup Foods before crossing the street to Floyd's SUV, parked in front of a restaurant, Dragon Wok. Lane tapped his flashlight on the window, startling Floyd. He asked Floyd to show his hands, and tapped again when he did not obey. Floyd apologized as he opened the car door. Lane instructed him three more times to show his hands. Seconds after

4998-628: The faculty of the. Los Angeles LGBT Center 's Emerging Leaders Project. In 2012, Botzer was on the board of directors for the World Professional Association for Transgender Health during the development of Version 7 of the Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming People . In 2003, shortly following the Supreme Court of the United States made

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5096-407: The federal government was involved. Barr worried that protesters might view the agreement as too lenient and prefer a full investigation. On May 29, Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter and held at Oak Park Heights state prison . According to the criminal complaint, police are trained that the neck restraint that he applied "with a subject in prone position

5194-466: The gap between North American and Israeli LGBTQ communities. The drew figures to attend from more than a dozen countries, and among them was Marsha Botzer and then Mayor of Seattle Ed Murray , an openly gay man. Members of Seattle's Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement accused Botzer and Murray of pinkwashing human rights violations of Palestinians by highlighting Israel's high standard of human rights enjoyed by LGBTQ Israelis. Before leaving for

5292-519: The ground instead. A Minneapolis Park Police officer arrived and guarded Floyd's vehicle (across the street by the restaurant) and the two people who had been in it with Floyd. At 8:17, Chauvin and Thao arrived in a third police car, joining Kueng and Lane, with Chauvin assuming command. He asked if Floyd was going to jail, and Kueng replied that he had been arrested for forgery. Floyd said, "I can't fucking breathe" twice. Cup Foods security footage shows Kueng struggling with Floyd for at least

5390-431: The historically LGBTQ Capitol Hill neighborhood for seniors. Also in 2019, Botzer was appointed to a King County Council task force as a representative of Ingersoll Gender Center. The purpose of the task force was to "spread awareness and understanding of gender nonconforming individuals and their experience with county departments and facilities". In 2020, the organization launched COVID-19 response programs to assist

5488-415: The jury found Chauvin guilty of all charges, including second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. He was the first white Minnesota police officer to be convicted of murdering a black person. It was only the second time an officer has been convicted of murder in Minnesota, the first being the third-degree murder conviction of Somali-American officer Mohamed Noor in

5586-417: The jury on February 24 found the former officers guilty on all counts they faced at trial. All three officers were convicted of willfully violating Floyd's constitutional rights by not providing medical care when he lost a pulse. Kueng and Thao were also found guilty of failing to intervene to stop Chauvin from using unreasonable force. After finding them guilty, the jury concluded that the cause of Floyd's death

5684-419: The jury was described by The New York Times as appearing to be all-white, a contrast to the more racially diverse jury during Chauvin's criminal trial. The prosecution's first witness, Katie Blackwell, testified for three days about the department's training and policies regarding use of force. During her testimony, Blackwell stated that the officers should have moved Floyd onto his side to prevent him having

5782-572: The knee in my neck, I can't breathe." At approximately 8:22, the officers called for an ambulance on a non-emergency basis, escalating the call to emergency status a minute later. Chauvin continued to kneel on Floyd's neck. A passerby yelled to Floyd, "Well, get up, get in the car, man", and Floyd, still handcuffed and face down on the pavement, responded, "I can't", while Chauvin's knee remained on his neck. Floyd said, "My stomach hurts, my neck hurts, everything hurts", requested water, and begged, "Don't kill me". One witness pointed out that Floyd

5880-491: The knee on his neck, and of fear of imminent death. After several minutes, Floyd stopped speaking. For the last few minutes, he lay motionless, and Kueng found no pulse when urged to check. Despite this, Chauvin ignored bystanders' pleas to lift his knee from Floyd's neck. The next day, after videos recorded by witnesses and security cameras became public, the Minneapolis Police Department fired all four officers. Two autopsies, and one autopsy review, found Floyd's death to be

5978-474: The oldest non-profit organization working in the space of transgender rights. Botzer was also an early member of Hands Off Washington and a founding member of Equality Washington, as well as Out in Front Leadership Project. Prior to founding Ingersoll Gender Center, Botzer worked as a union organizer. Botzer has cited a problem of joblessness and underemployment of transgender people as being

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6076-651: The pages of books in the Seattle Public Library 's small collection of books on the subject of gender as an attempt to get the word out about the center's services in the pre-Internet era. The primary service provided by Ingersoll is support groups led by local transgender and gender non-conforming people for their peers who are in need of support. Another service the organization provides is helping individuals access gender affirming healthcare and navigate their health insurance. The center has also worked with people who have been through conversion therapy in and around

6174-468: The police "subdual and restraint had elements of positional and mechanical asphyxiation ". On May 26, the FBI announced it was reviewing the incident at the Minneapolis Police Department's request. On May 28, the United States Department of Justice released a joint statement with the FBI, saying that their investigation into Floyd's murder was "a top priority" and outlining the investigation's next steps:

6272-493: The police academy in 2009. After a two-year layoff, he resumed police work in 2012. Six complaints had been filed against Thao, none resulting in disciplinary action. In 2014, a man claimed Thao handcuffed him without cause, threw him to the ground, and punched, kicked, and kneed him; the man's teeth were broken and he was hospitalized. The resulting lawsuit was settled for $ 25,000. During the Floyd arrest Thao kept bystanders away. He

6370-410: The police department had portions covering his criminal history redacted, including convictions for obstructing legal process and damaging property when he was 18. Kueng and Lane helped Chauvin hold Floyd down; both were found guilty of violating Floyd's civil rights. In October 2022, Kueng pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter and in December 2022 he was sentenced to three and

6468-572: The proposal was made law as the All Gender Restroom Ordinance. This made Seattle one of the first U.S. cities to enact such a law. The law and other local ordinances in Washington state were contested on a state-wide level when a voter initiative was created to ban such laws within the state. Ingersoll Gender Center lobbied in favor of the law and the rights of local municipalities during this time. After Donald Trump became President of

6566-457: The rally. Having already worked on a national and international level, Botzer first gained a formalized role in local Seattle politics in 2015 when she was appointed to a task force under Mayor Ed Murray centered on LGBTQ issues. This task force got a law passed that requires all single-occupancy restrooms to be gender-neutral. The law applies to both City operated restrooms and privately owned places of public accommodation. In 2019, Botzer

6664-679: The reasons for founding Ingersoll Gender Center. Getting the word out about the organization to a marginalized group before the internet posed a challenge. Botzer has said that in the face of this she would tuck Ingersoll Center business cards between the pages of books in the Seattle Public Library 's small collection of books on the subject of gender. Over the course of the late-20th century, Botzer made over 100 trips accompanying transgender residents of Seattle to Trinidad, Colorado where they sought gender reassignment surgery . The center conducted post-operative care and follow up surveys with patients of such surgeries given by Dr. Stanley Biber over

6762-479: The restrictions on the department to require that the chief make discipline decisions in a timely and transparent manner, and that civilian analysts and investigators in the city's Office of Police Conduct Review be given authority to audit body-worn camera footage and to file or amend complaints on behalf of the Minneapolis Civil Rights Department. In April 2022, the state investigation into

6860-404: The stand to testify in his own defense. Thao claimed that he was not aware that Floyd was suffering medical problems until he was taken into the ambulance, and that the technique of kneeling on a detainee's neck was "not uncommon", although he denied having ever done so. He admitted that neither Chauvin nor any other officers had administered CPR to Floyd, but claimed he took this to indicate Floyd

6958-600: The time told the South Seattle Emerald that the local community of transgender people of color had known of a history of problems within Ingersoll for years before the petition was created. An impetus for making the concerns public in March 2021 was that a Black Ingersoll employee felt their work in the support of Washington Senate Bill 5313 was being downplayed and misattributed. Several other nonprofit organizations working in

7056-473: The time. Murder of George Floyd On May 25, 2020, George Floyd , a 46-year-old black American man, was murdered in Minneapolis by Derek Chauvin , a 44-year-old white police officer. Floyd had been arrested after a store clerk reported that he made a purchase using a counterfeit $ 20 bill. Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for over nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed and lying face-down in

7154-550: The trials, the four officers were released on bail. Lane was released on June 10, Kueng on June 19, and Thao on July 4. Chauvin was released on October 7 after posting a $ 1 million bond. On June 2, the Minnesota Department of Human Rights opened an investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department's practices. On June 5, the Minneapolis City Council authorized the mayor to enter a restraining order with

7252-470: The trip, the protesters demanded that Murray cancel it, but he did not capitulate and included a statement in his address at the event defending his choice. A legislative hearing held during the conference was the first time the Israeli legislative body ever took up the topic of transgender issues. Botzer gave a talk of personal testimony during this hearing. She told the press afterward that this presentation

7350-533: The virus that causes COVID-19 , but did not list it as a fatal or other significant condition. Attorneys for Floyd's family announced on May 29 that they would commission a second autopsy. It was carried out on May 31 by Michael Baden , a pathologist and former New York City chief medical examiner, and Allecia Wilson, a pathologist and director of autopsy and forensic services at the University of Michigan Medical School . They announced their results on June 1,

7448-436: The wall in front of the restaurant. Lane asked Floyd if he was "on something right now", and Floyd replied "No, nothing". Kueng told Floyd he was acting "real erratic" and Floyd said he was scared. Kueng asked Floyd about foam around his mouth, to which Floyd responded that he had been "hooping" earlier. Floyd then said he was calming down, and remarked, "I'm feeling better now." At 8:13, Kueng and Lane told Floyd he

7546-454: The years. Botzer reported in 1995 that out of over 200 case histories they heard 93% positive response. Botzer even introduced Dr. Biber, to Dr. Marci Bowers who succeeded him at his practice in Trinidad after he retired. In the late 1980s, Botzer witnessed an increase in clients of the center who were assigned female at birth and sought a masculinizing medical transition. At this time there

7644-545: Was Chauvin's restraint, which permitted the judge to consider a lengthier sentence than the recommended three to four years in prison. The three officers remained free on bond while they awaited a sentencing hearing. In July 2022, Judge Magnuson sentenced Lane to 2.5 years in prison, Kueng to three years in prison, and Thao to 3.5 years in prison. Lane was ordered to report to federal prison on August 30, 2022. By October 2022, Kueng and Thao had both reported to federal prison. Thao filed an appeal, but on August 4, 2023,

7742-615: Was a 46-year-old black American born in Fayetteville, North Carolina , and raised in the Third Ward of Houston, Texas. In 2014, he moved to the Minneapolis area. He resided in the suburb of St. Louis Park , and was a frequent customer at the Cup Foods convenience store in Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis . At the time of Floyd's murder, Derek Michael Chauvin, a white American , was

7840-431: Was a public perception that transexualism was something that only people assigned male at birth did or were, but Botzer was quoted explaining the rise in visibility of trans men as being due to an increase in surgical options available to them that allow them to transition in public. In a 2018 interview with the South Seattle Emerald , Botzer said that just over a decade after founding Ingersoll Gender Center, she felt

7938-577: Was anticipated to be a major development in the case against the officers at the scene of Floyd's murder. Hennepin County Attorney Michael O. Freeman , the local official with jurisdiction to bring criminal charges for police misconduct, said his office needed more time to investigate. In explaining the anticipation of the media briefing and its two-hour delayed start, U.S. Attorney Erica MacDonald said, "I thought we would have another development to talk to you about, but we don't." On June 9, it

8036-467: Was appointed to a King County Council task force focused on Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Inclusion. In January 2020, Washington state created the LGBTQ Commission via legislation. codifying the state task force that had existed in prior years. Botzer was an inaugural commissioner, and was selected as a co-chair at the commission's first meeting. In 2021 the Seattle Police Department

8134-565: Was banned from participating in Capitol Hill Seattle Pride's march, and some gay cops said that they felt excluded from the Pride event. Botzer suggested a potential strategy to create solidarity between police and the LGBT community would be for the police department to hire more transgender cops, which she argued would reduce the accounts of police violence against transgender people. In 2019

8232-399: Was banned from participating in Capitol Hill Seattle Pride's march, and some gay cops said that they felt excluded from the Pride event. Botzer suggested a potential strategy to create solidarity between police and the LGBT community would be for the police department to hire more transgender cops, which she argued would reduce the accounts of police violence against transgender people. After

8330-529: Was being restrained and that his death was a homicide caused by " cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression". Fentanyl intoxication and recent methamphetamine use may have increased the likelihood of death. Other significant conditions were arteriosclerotic heart disease and hypertensive heart disease, including an enlarged heart, one artery 90% blocked, and two others 75% narrowed. The report said that on April 3, Floyd had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 ,

8428-461: Was bleeding from the nose. Another told the officers that Floyd was "not even resisting arrest right now". Thao countered that Floyd was "talking, he's fine"; a witness replied that Floyd "ain't fine   ... Get him off the ground   ... You could have put him in the car by now. He's not resisting arrest or nothing. You're enjoying it. Look at you. Your body language explains it." As Floyd continued to cry for help, Thao said to witnesses: "This

8526-478: Was breathing. Thao also stated that his main role at the scene was "crowd control" rather than to assess Floyd's condition. Closing arguments were heard on February 22. Prosecutor Manda Sertich stated that Kueng, Lane, and Thao "chose to do nothing" while Floyd was dying. Defense attorneys stated that the former officers were inexperienced, improperly trained, and that they did not willfully violate Floyd's civil rights. After deliberating for 13 hours over two days,

8624-652: Was co-chair of The National LGBTQ Task Force from 2005 to 2006 and then again from 2009 to 2010. During her tenure there, steps were made in Washington state to protect against discrimination on the basis of sexuality when it comes to housing and employment. In 2008 she served as a national co-chair of the Barack Obama Pride Campaign . In 2009 she was on the leadership committee for the Equality Across America march in Washington, D.C. and spoke at

8722-413: Was different than the times she had spoken before any U.S. legislature; the difference was the reception and open emotion of the legislators. Botzer said that she did not give into the calls for boycott because she wanted to see the country for herself. Botzer received gender confirming surgery in 1981 from Dr. Stanley Biber , the top surgical provider for the transexual community in the United States at

8820-486: Was entering cardiac arrest and again requested assistance, asking firefighters to meet it at the corner of 36th Street and Park Avenue. Five minutes later, the fire department reached the ambulance; two fire department medics who boarded the ambulance found Floyd unresponsive and pulseless. Floyd was pronounced dead at 9:25 at the Hennepin County Medical Center emergency room. Early on May 26,

8918-462: Was found guilty of violating Floyd's civil rights. J. Alexander Kueng, a black American then aged 26, and Thomas Kiernan Lane, a white American then aged 37, were licensed as law enforcement officers in August 2019. They had trained together. Chauvin was the superior officer responsible for most of Kueng's field training. On May 3, 2020, video of an arrest incident in Minneapolis showed Chauvin, Kueng, Lane, and another officer roughly detaining

9016-435: Was indicted for violating Floyd's civil rights, along with those of a teenager who survived a similar restraint in 2017. The other three officers also faced charges for violating Floyd's civil rights. Thao, Lane, and Kueng appeared at a hearing virtually, and each posted $ 25,000 bond. Chauvin did not appear at this hearing, and remained in jail while awaiting sentencing for his state charges. In July 2020, Floyd's family filed

9114-472: Was initially scheduled to include all four officers—Chauvin, Kueng, Lane, and Thao—and begin in January 2022 with U.S. District Judge Paul A. Magnuson presiding. The four officers were charged federally with abusing their positions as police officers, depriving Floyd of his constitutional rights to be "free from the use of unreasonable force", and failing to give medical aid. All four officers pled not guilty to

9212-441: Was on the ground. According to the criminal complaint against Chauvin, Lane asked Chauvin twice if they should move Floyd onto his side, and Chauvin said no. At 8:27, a Hennepin County ambulance arrived. Shortly thereafter, a young relative of the owner of Cup Foods attempted to intervene, but was pushed back by Thao. Emergency medical technicians checked Floyd's pulse. Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd's neck for almost

9310-472: Was one of the group of people to decide who the first 50 honorees for the new Stonewall Inn Wall of Honor. In 2021, an issue of racist bias and discrimination within Ingersoll Gender Center was raised by a group of past and present employees of the organization, calling themselves Ingersoll Collective Action. Marsha Botzer had become more removed from the day to day of the center's operations over

9408-454: Was revealed that state and federal prosecutors had discussed a plea deal with Chauvin that would have included state murder charges and federal civil rights charges, but the deal fell apart when United States Attorney General William Barr rejected it. Chauvin believed his prospects of winning at trial could be poor, and was willing to plead guilty to third-degree murder for a ten-year prison sentence. As he would have gone to federal prison,

9506-436: Was still conscious. Multiple witnesses began to film the encounter, and their videos circulated widely on the internet. At 8:20, a witness across the street began recording a video showing Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck, Kueng applying pressure to Floyd's torso, and Lane applying pressure to Floyd's legs, while Thao stood nearby. This witness stopped filming when one of the officers ordered him to leave. Also at 8:20,

9604-461: Was under arrest and walked him to their police car across the street. The officers then leaned him against the car's door. Floyd told the officers that he was not resisting, but that he was recovering from COVID-19 , that he was claustrophobic and had anxiety , and that he did not want to sit in the car. While Kueng and Lane attempted to put him in the car, Floyd begged them not to, repeatedly saying " I can't breathe " and offering to lie on

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