Death of Henry Nowak in Britain Sparks Debate Over Racism and Policing, Compared to George Floyd Case

Jun 1, 2026

The legacy of George Floyd's murder continues to provoke controversy, as Minnesota's Republican Party holds a moment of silence for his convicted killer, Derek Chauvin. The tribute sparked sharp criticism from Democrats and the Floyd family's lawyers. This event occurs as the death of Henry Nowak in Britain, who also said 'I can't breathe,' draws direct comparisons to the Floyd case, fueling a wider debate over racism and policing.

GOP Chauvin moment of silence

▪Delegates at the Minnesota Republican Party’s convention held a moment of silence for Derek Chauvin, the former police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd.
▪The motion for the moment of silence passed via a voice vote where supportive "ayes" were significantly louder than opposing "nays."
▪The tribute was proposed on June 1, 2026, by delegate Christopher Rocco, who described Derek Chauvin as someone who "faced injustice."

Democratic criticism of tribute

▪Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who prosecuted Chauvin, said Republicans must denounce the act or be seen as being "OK with what happened."
▪Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, lawyers representing the Floyd family, issued a statement calling the moment of silence "disgusting."
▪Democrats criticized the Minnesota Republicans' tribute, accusing them of disrespecting the courts and the memory of George Floyd.

George Floyd murder background

▪George Floyd, a Black man, was murdered by Derek Chauvin, a white Minneapolis police officer who knelt on his neck for nearly 10 minutes.
▪Henry Nowak's final words were reportedly "I can’t breathe," echoing the last words of George Floyd during his murder six years prior.
▪The death of Henry Nowak in Britain has sparked debate and drawn comparisons to the 2020 murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Chauvin conviction details

▪In addition to the state murder conviction, Derek Chauvin pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights crime.
▪Derek Chauvin is serving a prison sentence of more than 20 years for his crimes.
▪Derek Chauvin was convicted of murder in a Minnesota state court for the death of George Floyd.

Minnesota statewide election context

▪The convention where the tribute occurred was held to endorse Republican candidates for statewide races, including for governor and the U.S. Senate.
▪The chairman of the Minnesota Republican Party, Alex Plechash, said the motion was "spontaneous" and not supported by party leadership.