George Floyd death: Minneapolis official Andrea Jenkins sings Amazing Grace and calls racism 'public health issue'

'Until we name this virus, this disease that has infected America for the past 400 years, we will never, ever resolve this issue,' Ms Jenkins says

Minneapolis City Council vice president Andrea Jenkins sang Amazing Grace in honour of George Floyd during the Minneapolis presser before declaring racism a “public health issue”.

The politician was the first African American openly transgender woman to be elected into public office, and she used her voice on Thursday to comment on the death of George Floyd on Thursday.

She opened her speech at Minneapolis’ press conference with a powerful rendition of Amazing Grace. The moment mirrored that of when former President Barack Obama sang the song during his eulogy for Reverend Clementa Pinckney, an African American pastor who was one of nine shot and killed at a Charleston church in 2015.

“I want to offer some Amazing Grace to ... the entire Floyd family,” she said.

The politician then called Mr Floyd’s death a “senseless” and “tragic loss of black life” before imploring her colleagues to make efforts to stop future black Americans from dying.

“I am asking my colleagues, the mayor, anyone else who is concerned about the state of affairs in our community to declare a state of emergency declaring racism as a public health issue,” Ms Jenkins said.

“Until we name this virus, this disease that has infected America for the past 400 years, we will never, ever resolve this issue,” she added.

George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets

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George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets

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  Police spray mace at protestors to break up a gathering near the Minneapolis Police third precinct after a white police officer was caught on a bystander's video pressing his knee into the neck of African-American man George Floyd, who later died at a hospital, in Minneapolis

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  A protester holds a sign with an image of George Floyd

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  Protesters demonstrate against the death of George Floyd

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  A protester throws a piece of wood on a fire in the street just north of the 3rd Police Precinct

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  People in other US cities also protested the murder, like Los Angeles

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  A police officer lobs a canister to break up crowds

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  A protester is treated after inhaling tear gas

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  Two police officers stand on the roof of the Third Police Precinct during a face off with a group of protesters

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  Protesters outside a Minneapolis police precinct two days after George Floyd died

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  Protesters run from tear gas

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  Demonstrators gather to protest in Los Angeles

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  Police remove barricades set by protesters

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  A fire burns inside of an Auto Zone store near the Third Police Precinct

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  Flowers, signs and balloons are left near a makeshift memorial to George Floyd near the spot where he died

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  A policeman faces a protester holding a placard in downtown Los Angeles

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  A couple poses with a sign in Los Angeles

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  MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 27: A man is tended to after sustaining an injury from a projectile shot by police outside the 3rd Police Precinct building on May 27, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Four Minneapolis police officers have been fired after a video taken by a bystander was posted on social media showing Floyd's neck being pinned to the ground by an officer as he repeatedly said, "I cant breathe". Floyd was later pronounced dead while in police custody after being transported to Hennepin County Medical Center. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) Stephen Maturen

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  A protester reacts after inhaling tear gas

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  Protesters use shopping carts as a barricade

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  Protesters clash with the police as they demonstrate against the death of George Floyd

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She went on to add that the black community felt like there was “a knee on all of our collective necks, a knee that says black lives don’t matter.”

Protests broke out on Tuesday and Wednesday evening following the news of Mr Floyd’s death. On Wednesday night, people were seen performing acts of looting and arson on local businesses.

Although Ms Jenkins supported protesters’ rights to protest what happened to Mr Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers, she asked for protests to remain peaceful to protect city residents.

“You have no right to perpetrate violence and harm on the very communities that you say that you are standing up for. We need peace and calm in our streets and I am begging you for that calm,” she said.

Mr Floyd died on Monday evening after he was arrested by police for alleged forgery. Disturbing video emerged after the arrest after a police officer’s placed his knee on Mr Floyd’s neck for more than seven minutes.

In the video, Mr Floyd is heard saying he can’t breathe. He later died.

The Minneapolis Police Department swiftly fired the four officers at the scene of the arrest, but now the FBI was looking into the death of Mr Floyd and if a criminal case is warranted against the officers involved.