Minnesota Freedom Fund Raises $20 Million In 4 Days Amid George Floyd Protests

TOPLINE

A Minnesota non-profit bailing out jailed protesters has raised $20 million in four days since riots engulfed Minneapolis in response to the death of George Floyd.

KEY FACTS

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“Whether from MN or outside our area, we believe the money bail system is inherently biased and we will urge officials to avoid using money bail as a tool. If they do hold people pending bail, then people incarcerated in Minnesota who meet our guidelines will be considered for relief regardless of state of origin,” Boland said.

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Protests in dozens of cities across the country are continuing for a fifth straight day. Though many protesters have remained peaceful, some demonstrators, including those in Minneapolis, have clashed with police officers in riot gear, set fire to cars, scorched buildings and looted inventory from businesses. Scores of protesters have been arrested in the riots, including “hundreds” in Los Angeles on Friday night, as officers use tear gas and rubber bullets for crowd control.

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George Floyd died after four police officers attempted to detain him for allegedly using a fake $20 bill. In a video that has since gone viral, one officer is seen pinning Floyd to the ground and continuing to kneel on his neck while Floyd yells that he can’t breathe. The officer who knelt on Floyd, Derek Chauvin, was arrested and charged with third degree murder and manslaughter on Friday after riots broke out in the city the night before. An active investigation into the other three officers are still ongoing and they may still be charged.