Closing arguments have begun at the the murder trial of former Police Officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd, with the city of Minneapolis on edge against a repeat of the violence that erupted last spring.

The prosecution is going first. It hopes to convince the jury that Chauvin squeezed the life from George Floyd as he and two other officers pinned him to the street for 9 minutes, 29 seconds, outside a corner market. Throughout that time, Floyd repeatedly cried that he couldn’t breathe.

Prosecutors say those actions were reckless, unreasonable and warrant conviction not just for manslaughter but also on two murder counts.

The defense for the now-fired white officer says Floyd put himself at risk by using fentanyl and methamphetamine. They say Floyd then resisted officers trying to arrest him — factors that combined with his heart disease to lead to his death.

Chauvin, 45, is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Demonstrators have gathered outside the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis every day since the Derek Chauvin trial started on March 29th.

Family members of St. Thomas students and staff are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine through the university. The announcement was made to students and staff in an email from the Center for Well-Being this morning.

Individuals can receive their first, second or both doses of the Pfizer vaccine at St. Thomas. Vaccinations will begin Friday, April 23 and go into Saturday and Monday at McCarthy Gym.

Justin Amaker can be reached at justin.amaker@stthomas.edu.